Sounds crazy right? A device that many of us associate with sedentary behaviors can help increase physical activity? The reality is mobile devices are extremely popular amongst the teenage population. According to a national survey from CTIA (The Wireless Association®) and Harris Interactive, four out of five teens (17 million) carry a wireless device¹. The study titled “Teenagers: A Generation Unplugged” also found that a majority of teens (57%) view their cell phone as the key to their social life and that most admitted to spending nearly an equal amount of time talking as they do texting each month. 

So knowing this trend, researchers in England decided to use this technology to send daily text messages about exercise to 128 students aged 16-19 at four schools in West Yorkshire to see if it affected their physical activity levels². The teens received messages for two weeks; however some teens received messages that made physical activity sound enjoyable while some received messages noting the health benefits. A third group received both types of messages. At the end of the two weeks, the teens were performing an average of 31.5 minutes more of moderate physical activity per week. What was even more remarkable was that those teens who received the messages about exercise being enjoyable increased their amount of activity by 2 hours per week. The authors feel that that for inactive teens, focusing on the emotional benefits of exercise may be a more effective way to encourage physical activity than highlighting the traditional health benefits. If they think it is fun, the just might be more likely to exercise.

And this is important because according to a study by the Kaiser Family Foundation, teens spend an average of 7 hours and 38 minutes a day using media (such as watching TV, listening to music, surfing online, and playing video games) which are sedentary activities³. This is more than 53 hours per week. With all of this media time, it is hard for teens to find time to perform an hour or more of moderate or vigorous aerobic physical activity as is recommended for their age according to the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. Focusing on the fun of activity may go a long way to helping them increase their activity and hopefully meet this guideline. While we here at The Cooper Institute are known for our research linking activity to health outcomes we have also been strong proponents of the notion that activity should be fun and enjoyable for all. Our goal is to help people become more active for a lifetime and a major key to that is making it fun.

So the take home message is this. Meet teens where they are at. Find creative ways to use the media that they are using to encourage physical activity. For instance, a few weeks ago we posted a blog highlighting some of the many apps related to healthy living. Or like the researchers in England, have a friend or family member send text messages related to physical activity. And most importantly, focus on the fun.

1Teenagers: A Generation Unplugged. A National Survey by CTIA—The Wireless Association® and Harris Interactive. September 12, 2008. http://files.ctia.org/pdf/HI_TeenMobileStudy_ResearchReport.pdf. Accessed: May 7, 2010.

2Sirriyeh R, Lawton R, Ward J. Physical activity and adolescents: an exploratory randomized controlled trial investigating the influence of affective and instrumental text messages. Br J Health Psychol [online]. 12 Feb 2010. Available from: http://masetto.ingentaselect.co.uk/fstemp/f29445d551abc8c7b8920080e795b097.pdf.
 
3Generation M²: Media in the Lives of 8- to 18-Year-Olds. A Kaiser Family Foundation Study. January 2010. http://www.kff.org/entmedia/upload/8010.pdf. Accessed: May 7, 2010.

As online weight loss programs (e.g., eDiets, weightwatchers.com) continue to grow in number and popularity, researchers are already moving on to the next technology - podcasting. Podcasting, or audio files for a portable music player or computer, have been around for about five years. Podcasts differ from the internet in that they are very portable and don't require users to be literate or able to process/understand written information.

To test whether weight loss podcasts can produce significant weight loss, researchers at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill randomized 78 overweight study participants to receive 24 episodes (15 to 20 minutes each) of a currently available weight-loss podcast or a weight-loss podcast based on constructs from the social cognitive theory of behavior change including expectations (for weight loss), building self-confidence (for changing weight-related behaviors), and increasing knowledge (about how to lose weight and change behaviors).¹

At three months the "enhanced" (social cognitive) podcast listeners lost an average of 6.4 pounds whereas the "control" (currently available) podcast listeners only lost an average of 0.7 pounds. Participants in the enhanced group also reported greater increases in fruits and vegetables and a greater increase in the number of days engaged in vigorous physical activity compared to the control group.

What was interesting is that the majority of participants in the study reported listening to the podcasts at home (while sitting) most often, followed by in their office and at work (while sitting at their desk). Only 13% reported listening while walking or exercising. Thus, future interventions may need to do more to encourage participants to take advantage of the portability of podcasts.

All in all, weight loss podcasts can produce weight loss, but ones that are based on behavior change theory seem to be more effective. Thus, if you are considering enrolling in a weight loss program with podcasts ask if it addresses things like the importance of achieving a healthy weight; what to expect from trying to lose weight; goal setting and tracking weight, calorie, and physical activity behaviors to increase confidence; and basic knowledge about how to lose weight, exercise, and make lasting dietary changes.

¹Turner-McGrievy, G.M. (2009). Pounds off digitally study: a randomized podcasting weight-loss intervention. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 37(4), 263-269.