Are technologies designed to support physical activity really helping young adults be active? A four-year...

Area of Science:

• Health behavior research
• Digital health interventions
• Exercise science

Background:

• Commercialization of healthy lifestyle technologies (HLT) like fitness trackers and apps is widespread.
• The impact of volitional HLT use on promoting physical activity (PA) remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the average association between HLT use and PA levels.
• To assess if changes in HLT use predict changes in PA.

Main Methods:

• Utilized four yearly cycles of data from the MATCH longitudinal study (N=522).
• Participants (aged 20-23) self-reported HLT use and PA levels.
• Employed general estimating equations to analyze associations and changes.

Main Results:

• Approximately 40% of participants used HLT, primarily fitness trackers (30%) and apps (9%).
• HLT users reported 21% higher PA levels than non-users, but HLT use wasn't linked to odds of reporting any PA.
• Adopting HLT did not change PA, but discontinuing HLT use was linked to a 40% PA reduction.

Conclusions:

• HLT users exhibit higher PA levels but not necessarily increased participation in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA).
• Volitional use of HLT does not appear to drive an uptake in overall PA.
• Cessation of HLT use is strongly associated with decreased PA.