Adherence
Simple step-count monitoring interventions (pedometers) significantly increase daily step counts in community-dwelling adults, with effects sustained for up to 3-4 years, whereas more complex interventions (body-worn trackers, smartphone apps, counseling, or incentives) do not provide additional benefit and may be less effective.
Use a simple pedometer. It works. You don't need a smartphone app, a body-worn tracker, or expensive counseling to increase your steps. The data shows that simple step-count monitoring leads to sustained increases in physical activity for years, while more complex interventions offer no extra benefit and may even be less effective.
Step-count monitoring leads to short and long-term step-count increases, with no evidence that either body-worn trackers/smartphone applications, or additional counselling/incentives offer further benefit over simpler pedometer-based interventions. Simple step-count monitoring interventions should be prioritised to address the public health physical inactivity challenge.
Why this rating
Systematic review and meta-analysis of 70 RCTs with 16,355 participants, generally low risk of bias.
Source
The effects of step-count monitoring interventions on physical activity: systematic review and meta-analysis of community-based randomised controlled trials in adults
Umar Chaudhry et al. · International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity · 2020
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