The effect of a pedometer-based program improvement of physical activity in Tabriz University employees

Abstract

Background:Regular physical activity (PA) has been shown to reduce risk of morbidity and overall mortality. A study has displayed that achieving 10,000 steps/day is associated with important health outcomes and have been used to promote PA. Pedometers are a popular tool for PA interventions in different setting. This study investigated the effects on pedometer-based and self-reported PA among Tabriz University employees.Methods:This experimental study assessed the effects of 16 weeks pedometer-based workplace intervention. Participants (n = 154) were employees of two worksites. Pedometer-based and self-reported PA from one intervention worksite was compared with the data of a comparison workplace. International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) for self-reported measure of PA, and demographic (age, marital status, educational level, employment status, and stage of change) variables were obtained. To measure PA objectively pedometer was used.Results:Participants reported to increase the step counts from baseline (end of summer) to posttest (winter). The intervention effect revealed significant increase in the intervention group (8279 ± 2759 steps/day than in the comparison work place (4118 ± 1136). Self-reported based on IPAQ concluded women in intervention worksite had a significant increase in the leisure time domain, but similar finding was not found in the comparison worksite.Conclusions:Pedometer used might rather benefit those individuals who want feedback on their current PA, also walking should be considered to increase PA in employee women.

The effect of workplace lifestyle programmes on diet, physical activity, and weight‐related outcomes for working women: A systematic review using the TIDieR checklist

“…Ten studies used a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design [37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49] and 10 studies used a non-randomized study design (Table 1). [50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59] Nine studies were conducted in the United States 37,40,42,43,47,52,53,55,56,58 and two in Brazil. 44,45 Studies were also conducted in Iran, 50 Tunisia, 54 Norway, 38,39 Ireland, 51 Sweden, 41 Japan, 59 Germany, 57 Singapore, 46 and the Netherlands.…”

“…[50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59] Nine studies were conducted in the United States 37,40,42,43,47,52,53,55,56,58 and two in Brazil. 44,45 Studies were also conducted in Iran, 50 Tunisia, 54 Norway, 38,39 Ireland, 51 Sweden, 41 Japan, 59 Germany, 57 Singapore, 46 and the Netherlands. 48,49 Sample sizes ranged from 18 51 to 771.…”

“…38,39 Two studies included only participants with a BMI above 25 kg/m 2 at baseline, 40,58 and 17 studies reported using convenience sampling during recruitment. [37][38][39][40]42,43,[45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58] Eight studies delivered PA interventions (n = 12 intervention arms), [37][38][39]44,45,47,[50][51][52] and 12 studies delivered mixed interventions (n = 14 intervention arms), [40][41][42][43]46,48,49,[53][54][55][56][57][58][59] that is, a combination of PA and diet interventions. One study incorporated an oral health component in their intervention.…”

“…59 Ten studies included both men and women, 38,39,[41][42][43]48,49,51,54,55,[57][58][59] and 10 studies included women only. 37,40,[44][45][46][47]50,52,53,56 Six studies incorporated systems approaches, for example, participatory approach to programme design, management involvement and support, or environmental audits. 41,48,49,53,[55][56][57] None of these studies reported the implementation of any clear organizational policy changes.…”

“…58 An additional four studies used selfreported measurements alone 46,54,55,57 and two studies used both objective and self-report measurements (Table S4). 37,50 PA was measured via 15 different outcome variables (e.g., mean steps/day and VO 2max ), weight outcomes were measured via seven different variables (e.g., weight loss and BMI), and diet outcomes were measured according to six different variables (e.g., dietary fat/salt intake and fruit and vegetable consumption) (see Table S4).…”