VARIOUS MEDIA: Walk and Talk: Step-Counting Devices Work Best When Paired With Doctor Consults

Description

Use of pedometers and accelerometers by people with cardiometabolic conditions can lead to small but significant increases in physical activity over several months, according to a new meta-analysis. But the type of device and the quality of consultation with professionals over follow-up have a big impact on the degree to which activity actually improves.

“We found evidence that complex interventions that combine the use of monitoring devices (particularly pedometers) with regular consultations with health professionals might be an effective way of increasing physical activity and reaching the recommendations set out by governments and agencies for people with cardiometabolic conditions,” write lead author Alexander Hodkinson, PhD (University of Manchester, England), and colleagues. “It is likely that giving feedback and lifestyle advice to patients on a regular basis supported the effectiveness of these interventions.”