U.S. Cohort Differences in Body Composition Outcomes of a 6-Month Pedometer-Based Physical Activity Intervention: The ASUKI Step Study

Abstract

Background:Regular physical activity (PA) enhances health and is an important factor in disease prevention and longevity. The 2008 U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines recommends that all healthy adults attain at least 150 minutes per week of moderate intensity aerobic PA (e.g., brisk walking) to maintain and promote PA.Objectives:This study determined the effects of a 6-month pedometer-based worksite walking intervention with participants focusing on a goal of achieving 10,000 steps per day, on body composition in adults with a wide range of body mass index (BMI) values and compares the changes with outcomes of similar studies.Materials and Methods:The design was a single group, quasi-experimental study. All participants received a pedometer and were asked to register the daily number of steps. Men and women (n = 142; age = 41 ± 11.5 years; BMI = 27.2 ± 7.25 kg.m-2) received body composition measures at 1, 3, and 6 months. A multilevel growth modeling approach was used to explore change over time and to predict change by steps, age, gender, and fat category categorized as normal and overweight/obese.Results:Significant individual differences in linear slopes and change over time were observed for waist circumference (WC) (-3.0 cm) only in unconditional model (t = -0.67, P = 0.02).Conclusions:A 3.0 cm loss in WC shows that a 10,000 step per day walking program has the potential to influence changes in body composition measures that are correlated with adverse health outcomes. While significant changes did occur there are some limitations. The analysis did not consider the data regarding completing of 10,000 steps per day and other potential factors that could influence the results. Compliance to the walking dose and initial physical activity and body composition levels are important to consider when studying body composition changes in such programs.

Physical activity in shift workers: building evidence to inform health promotion practice

“…Overall, the majority of the studies reported improvements in one or more NCD risk factors, such as body weight, 93,95,97 BMI, 93,97,98 fat mass 95,97 and serum cholesterol concentration 98,100 . The findings suggest improvements in anthropometric and biological risk factors that are similar to those reported in other workplace physical activity interventions (for example using pedometers) with non-shift workers, in both educational and government settings [101][102][103] . Considering that shift work is an independent predictor of increased BMI 43 and body weight gain 19 , even small improvements in anthropometric and biological risk factors (as seen here) are encouraging, because they are associated with reduced risk of morbidity and mortality 48 .…”

“…. Walking interventions can incorporate social elements and previous studies have reported improvements in physical activity behaviours as a result of workplace walking groups156 and workplace walking challenges102 . Additionally, walking can be objectively measured and many valid and reliable research tools can be used to measure and monitor changes in this activity.…”

Increasing physical activity for veterans in the Mental Health Intensive Case Management Program: A community-based intervention

“…found that pedometer interventions promote modest weight loss, but the researchers also reported that the pedometers’ association with physical activity requires further research. Walker et al . studied the effects of a 6‐month pedometer‐based walking program on employees at Arizona State University.…”

“…A Cochrane systematic review of the effect of exercise interventions on schizophrenia found that exercise improved mental status but had no effect on weight or BMI (Gorczynski and Faulkner, 26 ). However, according to Walker et al, 18 consistent physical activity improves health and is a significant factor in disease prevention and longevity. In their systematic review, Richards et al 19 provided evidence supporting the need for interventions to promote physical activity among individuals (not specific to clients with SMI) and focused on the importance of face-to-face contact with the client.…”

“…Cai et al 17 found that pedometer interventions promote modest weight loss, but the researchers also reported that the pedometers' association with physical activity requires further research. Walker et al 18 studied the effects of a 6-month pedometerbased walking program on employees at Arizona State University. The study concluded that a 10,000 steps per day walking program has the potential to influence body changes that are related to adverse health outcomes, but these changes did not occur as often as the investigators hypothesized within that time frame.…”