Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 7, 2026
05:59
Visualization of Intensity Levels to Reduce the Gap Between Self-Reported and Directly Measured Physical Activity
Published on: March 7, 2019
Evaluation of an employer-sponsored pedometer-based physical activity program
Timothy K Behrens1, Lorie Domina, Gena M Fletcher
1Department of Kinesiology, Kansas State University, 1A Natatorium, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA. tbehrens@k-state.edu
Perceptual and Motor Skills
|January 31, 2008
Summary
A 12-week employer-sponsored pedometer program using team competition did not significantly increase employee physical activity long-term. While steps increased mid-program, the effect waned by the end, suggesting limited sustained impact.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Behavioral Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Employer-sponsored physical activity programs are common for improving employee health.
- Pedometers are frequently used to track and encourage physical activity.
- Competition is often incorporated into workplace wellness initiatives to boost engagement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a competition-based, employer-sponsored physical activity program using pedometers.
- To determine if such programs lead to sustained increases in daily step counts among employees.
Main Methods:
- A 12-week program involving approximately 2,600 city employees organized into teams of 10.
- Participants aimed for a goal of 10,000 steps per day, tracked via pedometers.
- Repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to analyze step count data from teams with complete records.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in team step counts were observed across the 12 weeks of the program.
- Post hoc analysis revealed significant increases in step counts from baseline at weeks 6-8.
- However, these significant differences were not maintained by the end of the 12-week program.
Conclusions:
- Competition-based physical activity programs utilizing pedometers may not be effective for achieving long-term increases in employee physical activity.
- The initial motivational boost from competition may not translate into sustained behavioral change.
- Further research is needed to identify effective strategies for promoting lasting physical activity in the workplace.
