Abstract
Background:
Obesity continues to rise, particularly among children, and is one of the greatest public health challenges of the 21st century. Physical activity may reduce weight and increase well-being. A pedometer study from the United States, Australia, and Sweden showed that boys need to walk 15,000 steps/day, and girls 12,000 steps/day to maintain a healthy profile. Research shows children with obesity have limited physical activity and they may need parent support to increase their physical activity level.
Objective:
The aim of this randomized controlled study was to estimate the effect of mothers using pedometers on their children's daily number of steps.
Methods:
Children/adolescents aged 6–16 years were included and all of them received a pedometer and a step diary. In the intervention group, their mothers received pedometers but not so in the control group. Fifty children were randomized and 32 could be followed-up for 24 weeks. There was no difference in outcome between groups in intention to treat analysis. A complete case analysis showed that the intervention group increased their daily steps (2400, 95% confidence interval 430–4500) compared with the control group (p = 0.019).
Conclusions:
Involving and activating mothers may increase the children and adolescent's physical activity if implemented more successfully than was done in this study.
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