Promoting physical activity using a wearable activity tracker in college students: A cluster randomized controlled trial

Abstract

This study examined the effects of utilizing a wearable activity tracker in a credit-based physical activity instructional program (PAIP) for promoting physical activity (PA) in college students. Fourteen PAIP courses in a large public university were randomly assigned into intervention (k = 7; n = 101) and control (k = 7; n = 86) groups. All courses focused on a core curriculum that covers basic exercise and behavioral science contents through lectures and activity sessions. A Misfit Flash activity tracker was provided to students in the intervention group. Objective PA assessments occurred at baseline, mid-, and end-of-semester during a 15-week academic semester. The control group showed a significant reduction in moderate- and vigorous-intensity PA (MVPA) minutes from baseline to the end-of-semester (P <.05), whereas the intervention group showed no changes in MVPA minutes over time. However, the intervention group also showed increased sedentary time and decreased time spent in light-intensity PA during the intervention period. Taken together, the present study found null effects of utilizing the wearable activity tracker in promoting PA in college students suggesting that intervention of primary using the wearable activity tracker as a behavior change strategy may not be effective to increase in PA in this setting.

Impact of Wearable Technology on Physical Activity, Fitness, and Health Outcomes in College Students with Disabilities

“…Physical activity increased in both groups as assessed through the PASIPD, however, results were not significant. This result is in agreement with some [15,31,36] but in contrast to others who have shown increased activity from the use of a wearable activity tracker [11,37,38,39]. An important distinction is that PA levels prior to and after the intervention in this study were measured through survey format rather than via direct measurement through accelerometry.…”

“…The results of this investigation have not deviated beyond what the literature has already highlighted on MVPA in college students being somewhat minimal in improvements [15,19]. However, the step count data presented in this investigation are in contrast to that by Rote [39] which found that college students wearing a Fitbit throughout the semester in conjunction with an educational component significantly increased their steps.…”

“…Research in the general population has shown that Fitbit use may be an effective technique for supporting health promotion efforts [14]. This wearable technology offers an attractive platform for instituting PA interventions targeting college students because it is appealing to this population [15]. Fitbits are one of the most recognized and widely used exercise devices, and have been acknowledged with "wearable technology" rating high in the 2016 and 2017 American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Fitness Trends [16,17].…”

Effectiveness of Combined Smartwatch and Social Media Intervention on Breast Cancer Survivor Health Outcomes: A 10-Week Pilot Randomized Trial

“…Of the paucity of high-quality randomized trials which evaluated the effectiveness of smartwatches in the promotion of physical activity, populations investigated have included: overweight and obese individuals [ 18 , 19 , 20 ], older adults [ 21 ], adults [ 22 ], and college students [ 23 , 24 , 25 ]. Findings from these studies have been mixed.…”

“…For example, Cadmus-Bertram et al [ 18 , 19 ] observed significantly increased moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and steps/day over 16 weeks among overweight and obese postmenopausal women using the Fitbit to track health behaviors when compared to a control group receiving standard care (e.g., exercise counseling), with marginally positive findings also observed in another study by Thorndike et al [ 22 ] among medical residents and Rote [ 24 ] among college students. Yet, other literature among overweight and obese men and women [ 20 ], older adults [ 21 ], and college students [ 23 , 25 ] has not observed provision of a smartwatch to result in greater improvements in physical activity versus control.…”