Increasing walking in college students using a pedometer intervention: differences according to body mass index

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Behavioral Science
• Exercise Science

Background:

• College students often exhibit sedentary behaviors.
• Interventions promoting physical activity are crucial for this demographic.
• Body Mass Index (BMI) may influence physical activity levels.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a pedometer intervention in increasing walking.
• To examine differences in walking behaviors among college students across BMI categories (underweight, normal weight, overweight/obese).

Main Methods:

• 290 college students participated in a 12-week pedometer intervention.
• Participants wore pedometers 5 days/week, with daily step averages recorded at weeks 1, 6, and 12.
• Repeated-measures ANOVA was used to analyze changes in step counts and differences between BMI groups.

Main Results:

• A statistically significant increase in average daily steps was observed from week 1 to weeks 6 and 12 (p < .001, p = .002).
• Underweight students consistently reported fewer steps than normal-weight students, with this difference being statistically significant (p = .03).
• No significant differences in step counts were found between normal weight and overweight/obese students.

Conclusions:

• Pedometer interventions are effective in promoting increased walking among college students.
• Focusing on health benefits beyond weight management may enhance intervention effectiveness for all students.
• Addressing potential disparities in physical activity among students with different BMIs is warranted.