Do low step count goals inhibit walking behavior: a randomized controlled study.

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Science
• Exercise Physiology
• Health Psychology

Background:

• Goal-directed behavior significantly influences physical activity levels.
• Understanding the impact of assigned walking goals is crucial for designing effective health interventions.
• Previous studies suggest a correlation between goal setting and adherence to physical activity targets.

Purpose of the Study:

• To confirm and quantify the effects of different walking goal assignments on actual daily step counts.
• To investigate how changes in walking goals (increasing or decreasing) affect sustained physical activity.
• To analyze the relationship between assigned step goals and achieved step counts in a controlled trial.

Main Methods:

• A single-blind, split-half randomized trial was conducted with 94 able-bodied university-affiliated subjects.
• Participants were assigned to either 5000 or 10,000 daily step goals, with some groups switching goals mid-study.
• An incentivized, pedometer-monitored program recorded daily steps for 56 days via a custom website providing feedback.

Main Results:

• Higher step goals (10,000) consistently resulted in significantly more steps logged compared to lower goals (5000) across study halves.
• Participants switching from 5000 to 10,000 steps increased their daily average, while those switching from 10,000 to 5000 steps decreased their average.
• While goal achievement varied, higher assigned goals generally led to greater overall walking behavior.

Conclusions:

• Assigned walking goals demonstrably influence overall walking behavior.
• Individuals tend to walk more when set higher goals, irrespective of meeting the exact target.
• Reducing walking goals can lead to a reduction in physical activity, underscoring the importance of goal maintenance.