Article Text
Abstract
Introduction We tested whether physical activity (PA) engagement is subsequently associated with additional health-promoting behaviours in a large-scale, real-world programme leveraging technology and behavioural science to reward healthy lifestyle behaviours.
Methods In this observational, longitudinal study, we compared participants’ verified and self-reported health behaviours prior to and following their first verified engagement in PA recorded on the Vitality programme between 2014 and 2017.
Results Of 34 061 participants, the mean duration in the programme was 40.1 (SD 12.6) months, and the median time until the first PA was 13.1 (SD 16.6) months, with a mean age of 42.0 (SD 11.1) years and 14 881 (43.7%) being male. Baseline weekly PA minutes were mean 62.8 (SD 129.7), 98 (SD 26.0) and 282.9 (SD 230.0) for the low, moderate and high groups, respectively. In the 12 months following the first PA, the low group increased weekly active minutes by 156% (40 (95% CI 28.6 to 51.0) to 102 (95% CI 94.5 to 109.8)); the moderate group increased weekly active minutes by 60% (85.0 (95% CI 76.4 to 93.5) to 136 (95% CI 130.2 to 141.8)); and no change was seen for the high group. Overall, individuals exhibited an increase of 26% in their weekly active minutes from an average of 130 min (95% CI 121.2 to 139.4) to 164 min (95% CI 157.5 to 169.8). Overall, fruit and vegetable daily servings increased from 2.7 (95% CI 2.6 to 2.8) to 2.9 (95% CI 2.9 to 3.0); Kessler Stress Scores decreased from 17.4 (95% CI 17.2 to 17.6) to 17.0 (95% CI 16.9 to 17.1); sedentary hours decreased from 11.3 (95% CI 11.1 to 11.5) to 10.8 (95% CI 10.7 to 11.0); alcohol consumption decreased from 1.8 (95% CI 1.7 to 2.0) to 1.6 (95% CI 1.5 to 1.7) weekly units; sleep increased from 7.1 (95% CI 7.06 to 7.16) to 7.2 (95% CI 7.13 to 7.20) hours/night.
Conclusions PA was followed by other health-promoting behaviours. PA interventions should also evaluate the indirect impact on other health behaviours.
- physical activity
- risk factor
- cardiovascular
- nutrition
- sedentary
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Footnotes
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Contributors DY and CH were responsible for conducting the study. DK was responsible for statistical analysis. ES, CH and DK were responsible for manuscript preparation.
Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
Competing interests At the time of writing, DK and DY were paid employees, CH and ES were paid contractors for the Vitality Group, which provides commercial wellness initiatives. DK has no financial disclosures. ES and CH have received consulting fees from Teva Pharmaceuticals for work on multiple chronic conditions. DY is currently the founder and president at the Foundation for a Smoke Free World, has been a paid employee at PepsiCo, and has provided paid consultancy/advisory services to Mars, PepsiCo, Astra-Zeneca, Novo-Nordisk, AB Inbev, Tesco and Teva Pharmaceuticals.
Patient and public involvement statement The Vitality programme is direct to consumer and regularly takes feedback into account for programme offerings and design. Vitality members are informed and consented for participation in research during their enrolment into the programme.
Patient consent for publication Not required.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.
Data availability statement No data are available.