Step goals on a website did not lift motivation more than a step counter

The study

1. 01

   Who took part

   97 adults over 25 who did little exercise, most of them women, about 46 on average. Only 67 stayed to the end and were counted.

2. 02

   What they did

   For 12 weeks, one group got step goals that rose each week and logged their steps on a website. The site told them if they hit the goal, gave tips and let them write plans for when and how to walk. The other group got a step counter, a daily step target, a plain website and a general weekly email.

3. 03

   What happened

   Both groups felt more motivated and more confident about walking over time, with no difference between them at 12 or 24 weeks. Steps were the same at 12 weeks. The website group walked more 12 weeks after the programme ended, but the paper gives two different numbers for how much more.

What the study found

1. No differenceMotivation

   Step goals with online logs and tips did not make people keener or surer about walking than a step counter.

   • Action: Set a specific goaltested
   • Action: Track your progresstested
   • Rule: Get feedback on your progresstested
   • Rule: Write down when and wheretested

   Small randomised trial of 97 inactive adults over 25 · vs a step counter, a step target and emails · behaviour was recorded · ⚠ only counted people who finished; many people dropped out; numbers unreliable

2. MixedGoals

   Rising step goals with online logs did not add steps by 12 weeks, but that group walked more later.

   • Action: Set a specific goaltested
   • Action: Track your progresstested
   • Rule: Get feedback on your progresstested

   Small randomised trial of 97 inactive adults over 25 · vs a step counter, a step target and emails · behaviour was recorded · ⚠ only counted people who finished; many people dropped out; numbers unreliable

Source