Internet-delivered behavior change program increases physical activity and improves cardiometabolic disease risk factors in sedentary adults: Results of a randomized controlled trial

Objectives. To determine whether the Active Living Every Day (ALED-I) internet-delivered theory-based physical activity (PA) behavior change program increases PA and improves cardiometabolic disease risk factors (CDRF) in sedentary overweight adults. Methods. The study was a randomized control trial that took place in southern Wyoming and northern Colorado from 2005–2007. Thirty-two men and women (21–65 years) were randomized to a 16-week ALED-I intervention (n = 14; age = 41.4 ± 3.7 years; BMI = 32.3 ± 1.3 kg/m2) or a delayed intent-to-treat control condition (n = 18; age = 49.4 ± 1.7 years; BMI = 30.6 ± 0.8 kg/m2). At baseline and post-intervention, PA by pedometer and CDRFs were measured. Results. Both groups had similar baseline PA levels. ALED-I increased PA by an average of 1384 steps/day (p = 0.03) compared to 816 steps/day (p = 0.14) for the control group. Waist circumference (100.6 ± 2.4 vs. 96.6 ± 2.7 cm) and Coronary Risk Ratio (5.1 ± 0.3 vs. 4.7 ± 0.3) decreased in the ALED-I group and did not change in the control group (99.2 ± 2.2 vs.99.8 ± 2.1 cm) and (3.7 ± 0.1 vs. 3.7 ± 0.1), respectively. Conclusions. The internet-delivered ALED program increased PA and improved some CDRFs in sedentary overweight/obese adults. To our knowledge, this is the first efficacy trial of the internet-delivered ALED program. Further studies are warranted due to the reach and cost-effectiveness of internet-delivered PA programs.