| This study compared the effect of physical activity on sedentary, overweight adult women, following advice given from an OB-GYN physician to women who receive the same advice coupled with a pedometer. Thirty-nine participants' were evaluated for stage of change, exercise self-efficacy score, 7-day PAR, BMI, RHR, RBP, and a 6-min walk at 3 time periods. The physicians' health promotion practices were also evaluated. The results of the study indicate that the pedometer was helpful, but was not statistically significant. Both groups increased their stage of change by about 30%. The pedometer group had an effect size of > 0.5 at 2 time periods in the number of steps/day. The pedometer group increased nearly 2.5 times more in min/week of exercise. These findings indicate that that the pedometer could improve the effect of a physician's advice to exercise. |
