Change in Objectively Measured Activity Levels Resulting from the EMPOWER Study Lifestyle Intervention.

Area of Science:

• Obesity research
• Behavioral science
• Public health

Background:

• Weight management interventions often incorporate physical activity (PA) goals.
• Understanding factors influencing PA goal achievement is crucial for optimizing intervention success.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze changes in physical activity (PA) during a behavioral weight-loss program.
• To identify baseline characteristics associated with achieving PA goals.

Main Methods:

• A prospective cohort study of 116 overweight/obese adults in a 12-month intervention.
• Moderate-to-vigorous (MV) PA and steps were measured via accelerometer at baseline, 6, and 12 months.
• Logistic regression analyzed factors associated with meeting PA goals.

Main Results:

• Increases in MV PA and steps were observed at 6 months, with some attenuation by 12 months.
• At 6 months, 33.6% met PA goals; at 12 months, goal achievement varied by measurement method (total vs. bout minutes).
• Male gender and autumn program start were associated with higher odds of meeting PA goals at 6 months.

Conclusions:

• The intervention effectively improved PA goal achievement, with clinically meaningful gains.
• Female participants may need additional support to enhance their PA levels within such programs.