Gamifying Accelerometer Use Increases Physical Activity Levels of Sedentary Office Workers.

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Digital Health Interventions
• Behavioral Medicine

Background:

• Sedentary work poses significant health risks, including cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
• Over 80% of US jobs are sedentary, increasing risks for office workers.
• Effective workplace physical activity interventions are crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of the MapTrek mobile health platform in increasing physical activity.
• To assess the impact of MapTrek on daily steps and moderate-intensity steps over 10 weeks.
• To determine the effectiveness of gamified Fitbit use for sedentary office workers.

Main Methods:

• 146 full-time sedentary office workers (aged 21-65) participated.
• Participants were randomized into a Fitbit-only group or a Fitbit + MapTrek group.
• Physical activity was measured using Fitbit devices over a 10-week intervention period.

Main Results:

• The Fitbit + MapTrek group showed significant increases in daily steps (+2092 steps/day) and active minutes (+11.2 min/day) compared to the Fitbit-only group.
• Despite initial gains, average participant steps declined over the study duration.
• Intervention compliance was monitored via Fitbit activity data.

Conclusions:

• MapTrek effectively increases physical activity in sedentary office workers.
• The positive effects of MapTrek, similar to accelerometer use, tend to decrease over time.
• Workplace interventions are vital for mitigating sedentary work health risks.