Four short sessions may have increased skills for managing exercise

The study

1. 01

   Who took part

   23 overweight or obese adults with type 2 diabetes who were not already exercising. Most were women, and their average age was about 58.

2. 02

   What they did

   The planning group had four short sessions with a health educator over four weeks. They wore an activity armband for a week, then made a weekly exercise plan and kept a log. The other group had the same meetings and armband, but no plan or log.

3. 03

   What happened

   Compared with the other group, the planning group said it used more of the exercise skills at the end, including managing time. The other group changed much less. The paper's numbers do not quite add up, so we cannot give exact sizes.

What the study found

1. HelpedTime management

   Adults who planned exercise each week said they used more time management than the other group.

   • Action: Plan your weektested
   • Rule: Write down when and wheretested

   Very small randomised trial of 23 overweight adults with type 2 diabetes · vs the same meetings without a plan or log · they rated themselves · ⚠ numbers unreliable

2. HelpedOther outcomes

   The planning group also said it used five other skills more, such as tracking progress and setting goals.

   • Action: Track your progresstested
   • Action: Set a specific goaltested
   • Rule: Do it with a partner or teamtested

   Very small randomised trial of 23 overweight adults with type 2 diabetes · vs the same meetings without a plan or log · they rated themselves · ⚠ numbers unreliable

Source