"Step by Step": A Feasibility Study of the Promotion of Lunchtime Walking to Increase Physical Activity and Improve Mental Well-being in Sedentary Employees

University of Birmingham

Status and phase

Unknown

Early Phase 1

Conditions

Sedentary

Exercise

Treatments

Other: delayed treatment

Other: 16-week lunchtime walking intervention

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT01150084

ISRCTN01150084 (Registry Identifier)

Details and patient eligibility

About

Increasing rates of sedentary living, often complemented by obesity, among large segments of the adult population are associated with costs to individual health and well-being and thereby to society as a whole. Although some workplaces offer physical activity opportunities, those employees who tend to need it the most (i.e., the health needy) are often not attracted. In this project, the investigators propose to develop and evaluate a programme that is targeted to the sedentary health needy employees. The investigators will work with the corporate partner (a large university) to attract such employees through an extensive social marketing driven campaign. A 16-week lunchtime walking programme is proposed in which walking groups are offered followed by support and motivational strategies for longer term independent walking. The investigators will examine the effects of the programme on total amount of walking (including a follow-up assessment 4 months later) and will use innovative technology (Smartphones) to also examine the effect of lunchtime walks on well-being and work performance within and between participants.

Enrollment

75 patients

Sex

All

Ages

18 to 65 years old

Volunteers

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

healthy, mobile, 18-65 year old employees who report they are engaging in less than 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity per week

Exclusion criteria

employees with significant auditory or visual problems and those who have severe musculoskeletal disorders that prevent them from engaging in physical activity. Medical clearance will be requested for those who report any cardiovascular disease.