http://www.sfgate.com/health/article/Tr ... 297934.php
Trial: E-nagging can increase healthy activity
Victoria Colliver, Chronicle Staff Writer
Published 4:00 am, Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Kaiser Permanente researchers conducting a clinical trial on the impact of e-mailed reminders on diet and physical activity found gentle electronic nagging actually worked: People who received regular messages suggesting modest lifestyle improvements increased their activity level and made healthier food choices.
The study, conducted in 2006 and published today in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, is considered the first randomized, controlled study to look at the effect of e-mail on health.
The results showed trial participants who received regular e-mails recommending small health goals - such as a 10-minute walk - increased activity by 55 minutes per week and decreased sedentary activity by two hours a week, as compared with those who only received one message at the onset of the study.
The 16-week trial involved 787 Northern California Kaiser employees in administrative or technical positions.
"The takeaway message here for people who want to improve their diet and physical activity, and for employers who want a healthier workforce, is that e-mail intervention programs are a very cost-effective way to get healthy," said Barbara Sternfeld, senior research scientist for Kaiser's Division of Research and lead investigator for the study.
The e-mail program, developed by a Berkeley company called NutritionQuest, tailored the messages to personal goals and the individual's lifestyle and schedule based on participants' answers to a questionnaire.
The great thing about this kind of experiment is that the data, at least in summary form, is available to the general public. And if you have more questions you know where to go to get them answered
And that is game, set, and match.
yrs,
rubato
