What technology or resources do you have access to that can help monitor your physical activity levels?

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Evidence Summary

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de Vries J, Kooiman T, van Ittersum M, et al. Do activity monitors increase physical activity in adults with overweight or obesity? A systematic review and meta-analysis Obesity. 2016;24:2078-91.

Review question

Does using an activity monitor help to increase physical activity in adults with overweight or obesity?

Background

Physical activity has important health benefits, especially for adults with overweight or obesity. Activity monitors, such as pedometers or accelerometers, assist individuals in monitoring their own physical activity. This self-monitoring may help individuals to increase their physical activity.

How the review was done

This review includes 14 studies of 1157 participants. Of these, results from 11 randomized controlled trials were combined in a meta-analysis.

• All studies included adults with overweight or obesity (body mass index >27.0 kg/m2)
• Seven studies compared physical activity programs using activity monitors to no physical activity program, and seven studies compared physical activity programs using activity monitors to physical activity programs without an activity monitor.
• The physical activity programs used a variety of strategies such as individual or group education sessions, emails, telephone calls, websites, DVDs, and/or books or manuals to help participants increase their physical activity.
• Duration of the various programs varied from 6-weeks to 12-months
• The researchers measured changes in participants’ physical activity levels from the beginning to the end of the programs, including number of steps, time spent walking and time spent doing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity.

What the researchers found

People in physical activity programs with activity monitors were more likely to spend time doing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and walked more than people who did not take part in a physical activity program. Physical activity programs that used activity monitors were more effective at increasing walking time than programs that did not use an activity monitor, but more research is needed to determine whether they are more effective at increasing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. The amount of change and types of physical activity programs varied greatly across studies. 

Conclusion

Starting a physical activity program that uses an activity monitor helps adults with overweight or obesity to increase physical activity levels and walking time. More research is needed to determine whether adding an activity monitor to an existing physical activity program will provide additional benefits to adults with overweight or obesity who are trying to increase their physical activity levels.

Glossary

Meta-analysis
Advanced statistical methods contrasting and combining results from different studies.

Randomized controlled trials
Studies where people are assigned to one of the treatments purely by chance.

Related Evidence Summaries

• Nutritional strategies can improve body composition in underweight and overweight older adults

  JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports (2016)

• Exercise alone, and in combination with different fall prevention strategies may lower the risk of falls leading to injuries in older adults 65 and over

  JAMA: Journal of the American Medical Association (2017)

• Developing community-based coalitions and developing competences of older adults are important to promote physical activity

  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2017)

Related Web Resources

• Peripheral Arterial Disease and Exercise

  Health Link B.C.

  Being physically active can help in the management and prevention of Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD). Supervised, facility-based specialized exercise programs may potentially help relieve leg pain and improve walking ability in people with PAD. Unsupervised, structured home-based exercise programs are also an option. Consult with your health care provider prior to initiating any type of exercise program.

• Fitness: Using a Pedometer or Step Counter

  Health Link B.C.

  Walking can help boost your level of physical activity. Tracking your daily step count using a pedometer or step counter allows you to identify your activity level so you can then set goals to be more active.

• Patient education: Pelvic floor muscle exercises (Beyond the Basics)

  UpToDate - patient information

  Pelvic floor muscles work to support the organs in the pelvis, such as the bladder and rectum. When these muscles are weakened—naturally through age, an injury, or some other contributing factor—it can result in urinary and fecal incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. Pelvic floor exercises (i.e. Kegel exercises) can help to enhance the strength of these muscles and improve symptoms.

DISCLAIMER These summaries are provided for informational purposes only. They are not a substitute for advice from your own health care professional. The summaries may be reproduced for not-for-profit educational purposes only. Any other uses must be approved by the McMaster Optimal Aging Portal ().

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