Physical Activity and Leisure-time Study (PALS)

Phase 1

Completed

Brief Summary: Physical inactivity is a major public health problem and a primary contributing factor to the obesity epidemic. While most Americans do not meet the physical activity (PA) guidelines (30 min/day, 5 day/wk), they do report watching several hours of TV each day, and frequently site "lack of time" as a barrier for engaging in PA. The Physical Activity and Leisure-time Study examines an approach convert sedentary TV watching into active TV watching time by having adults step in place during commercials (TV commercial stepping).

Detailed Description: This randomized controlled trial will examine the effects of a PA prescription of TV commercial stepping for at least 90 min/day of TV programming, with that of walking at least 30 min/day (30 min walk) on daily step counts, TV viewing, and diet during a 24 week PA intervention. Sedentary, overweight or obese, adults will be randomly assigned to either the TV commercial stepping, or 30 min walk group during a 24-week behavioral PA intervention. Both groups will attend 8 sessions, but receive different PA goals. PA, TV watching time, diet, and anthropometric data will be collected at 0, 12, and 24 weeks. It is hypothesized that the TV commercial stepping condition will, show an equal increase in PA at 12 and 24 weeks as compared to the 30-min walk condition. Neither group is hypothesized to demonstrate changes in TV viewing time, dietary intake, or weight.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

Exclusion Criteria

history of myocardial infraction, angina, stroke, heart failure, or uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmias
a resting blood pressure greater than 180 mm Hg systolic and/or 100 mm Hg diastolic
other physical or medical limitations for engaging in physical activity
no television in the home
baseline physical activity level exceeding 7,499 steps per day as determined by the Omron pedometer
currently participating in a program to increase PA
intended to move outside the East Tennessee area within the time frame of the intervention
were pregnant, lactating, less than 6 months post-partum, or planned to become pregnant during the time frame of the intervention
unwilling to attend group intervention meetings, assessments or to complete an activity diary for the duration of the study.

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
30-min walk	30-min walk	Instructed to use "brisk" walking (at least 30 min/day in bouts of at least 10 min) at least 5 days/week. Participants were permitted to exercise in one long bout (30 min) or divide the exercise into multiple bouts as long as the bout length was 10 min or greater.
TV commercial stepping	TV commercial stepping	Instructed to stand and "briskly" step in place, or "briskly" walk continuously around the room/house for the duration of each commercial break during at least 90 min of TV programming on at least 5 days/week. Rather than exercising continuously for at least 10-minute bouts, participants performed multiple (\~9 or 10), short (\~3-5 min) bouts, conveniently incorporated into their daily TV viewing time.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Physical Activity (Steps/Day)	0 and 6 months	Change in pedometer measured steps per day between 0 and 6 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Total Energy Intake	0 and 6 months	Change in total energy intake(kcals/day) between 0 and 6 months
TV Related Energy Intake	0 and 6 months	Change in energy intake (kcals/day) while watching TV between 0 and 6 months
Weight	0 and 6 months	Change in weight in kgs between 0 and 6 months
TV Viewing Time	0 and 6 months	Change in self-reported TV viewing time per day between 0 and 6 months