Research On Pedometers For Motivation

Adults age 18 to 64 years should spend at least 150 minutes per week doing aerobic activity, while children should spend 60 minutes per day doing aerobic activities. Two reviews of research concluded that people who used a pedometer as part of an exercise program were more physically active than those who did not.

Pedometers and Physical Activity in Adults

There have been many studies of whether pedometers help increase physical activity in adults. A 2007 article in the "Journal of the American Medical Association" reviewed 26 studies where pedometers were used as part of a program to increase physical activity in adults. People who took part in exercise programs that included pedometers were compared with other people who were not enrolled in exercise programs that included pedometers. Adults who took part in exercise programs that included the use of a pedometer walked 2,000 steps per day more than people who were not enrolled in exercise programs that included a pedometer.

Pedometers and Physical Activity in Children

When compared to adults, there has been less research evaluating pedometer use and physical activity in children. A 2009 article in the journal "Preventive Medicine" reviewed 14 studies where pedometers were used as part of a program to increase physical activity in children. Of the 14 studies, 12 found that pedometer use, in combination with other activities, was linked to higher levels of physical activity in children.

Predictors of Higher Physical Activity

In both reviews of research about pedometers, the authors noted that pedometer use alone is not sufficient to increase physical activities. Most exercise programs combine pedometers with other activities that help people change their exercise behaviors. According to the two review articles, people who were the most physically active included those who kept a daily diary of their steps and those who set goals of increasing the number of steps they would take each day.

Pedometer Use and Health

Pedometer use as part of an exercise program may have a positive effect in some aspects of your health. In the 2007 review, adults who used pedometers had a lower body mass index (BMI), which measures whether a person is underweight, overweight, or at a normal weight. Adults who used pedometers as part of an exercise program also had lower blood pressure than those who did not.