title: Evaluation and modification of exercise patterns in the natural environment.
abstract: Using a new experimental paradigm to evaluate physical activity in the natural environment, the authors made of 45,694 observations of persons using stairs or an adjacent escalator at a shopping mall, train station, and bus terminal. In study 1, stair use more than doubled for both obese and nonobese persons during two-week periods when a colorful sign encouraging use of the stairs was positioned at the stairs/escalator choice point. In study 2, stair use remained elevated for 15 consecutive days while the sign was present, decreased during a 1-month follow-up period, and returned to baseline by 3 months. These results not only demonstrate the usefulness of this paradigm, but also suggest the strength of simple, inexpensive public health interventions to increase physical activity.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D002755:Choice Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology; D005082:Physical Exertion; D012931:Social Environment