Minutes in motion: motivating a community to move

"Minutes in Motion" (MIM) was a community-based exercise challenge designed to recruit a large number of people to increase their physical activity for 6 weeks. We examined participant characteristics that improved the likelihood of success.

This program challenged community members to engage in 30 minutes of physical activity every day for 6 weeks. Participants were asked to submit the number of minutes they exercised at the halfway point of the challenge and again at the end. Those who participated were eligible for prizes. Participants also were asked to complete voluntary pre- and post-surveys that included questions about usual amount of physical activity, perceived improvement from the exercise, and self-efficacy to exercise.

Of the 3505 community members who signed up for MIM, 78% initially participated and 61% met the challenge goal. The program evaluation was completed by 567 participants. As a result of MIM, 41% of subjects reported they were more active, 51% reported weight loss, 44% had improved endurance, and 51% had improved mood. Fifty-eight percent of subjects exercised more per week at the end of the study than they did before, and self-efficacy to exercise increased in 47% of the subjects. Keeping a log, exercising at work, and wearing a pedometer were related to many of these outcomes.

A physical activity challenge targeted at a community can recruit a large number of people to increase their minutes in motion. Outcomes can be enhanced with certain recommended participation elements.