Research

Adherence

Using an activity tracker (Fitbit) combined with kinesiologist-led physical activity promotion significantly increases physical activity levels and improves specific cardiometabolic risk variables (HDL cholesterol, BMI, waist circumference) in patients with type 2 diabetes compared to kinesiologist-led promotion alone.

For a patient with Type 2 Diabetes, using a simple activity tracker like a Fitbit alongside a structured exercise plan guided by a health professional (like a kinesiologist) is more effective for improving heart health markers (like HDL cholesterol) and reducing waist size than just following the exercise plan alone. The key is using the tracker to stay motivated and adhere to the 150 minutes of moderate activity per week recommended by your provider.

ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
PA assessed by questionnaires increased in both groups, change being greater in the intervention group (P<0.05)... High-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased in the intervention group and decreased in the control group (P=0.014)... Significant correlations were observed between average steps per day and changes in waist circumference... body mass index... and fat percentage... in the intervention group.
Cynthia Pelletier et al. · mHealth · 2021

Why this rating

It is a randomized controlled pilot trial, but the sample size is small (n=30, 11 completed per group), limiting statistical power and generalizability.

Source

Using an activity tracker to increase motivation for physical activity in patients with type 2 diabetes in primary care: a randomized pilot trial

Cynthia Pelletier et al. · mHealth · 2021

DOI 10.21037/mhealth-20-154

rct · n=30Cited 15×
Read the paper
DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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