Evaluation of an Employer-Sponsored Pedometer-Based Physical Activity Program

Abstract

This study evaluated a competition-based employer-sponsored physical activity program using pedometers. City employees (N∼2,600) formed teams in groups of 10 persons (N = 640). The groups competed against each other over a 12-wk. period with the goal of attaining 10,000 steps per day, per person. Only teams with complete data were included in the formal evaluation. A repeated-measures analysis of variance indicated significant differences in team steps by week of the program, with post hoc comparisons indicating significant differences from baseline step counts evident during Weeks 6–8 but not at the end of the program. These data confirm that competition-based physical activity programs using pedometers may not be an effective means of increasing the long-term physical activity of employees.