title: Empowering sedentary adults to reduce sedentary behavior and increase physical activity levels and energy expenditure: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a 4-week intervention in which an online personal activity monitor (Gruve-Technologies™) was used to reduce sedentary behavior among sedentary adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen, sedentary adult volunteers (12 men, six women, mean age 29 ± 4.0 years) were recruited to participate in the study. Time spent in sedentary activities and light-, moderate-, and vigorous-intensity physical activity and energy expenditure were assessed during waking hours using the monitor and the 7-day SLIPA Log at both baseline and post-intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant decrease of 33% (3.1 h/day; p < 0.001) was found between the time spent in sedentary activities measured at baseline (9.4 ± 1.1 h/day) and at the end of the 4-week intervention (6.3 ± 0.8 h/day). Consequent to the changes in sedentary time, significant increases were found in the amount of time spent in light- (45% (2.6 h/day), p < 0.001), moderate- (33% (1 h/day) p < 0.001), vigorous-intensity physical activity (39% (0.16 h/day), p < 0.001), and energy expenditure (47% (216.7 kcal/day), p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This monitor contributes to a meaningful reduction in time spent in sedentary activities and has a large effect on energy expenditure and physical activity patterns.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education and Sports, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Faisal A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Barwais
authors.affiliation: School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane 4059, Australia. t.cuddihy@qut.edu.au.
authors.forename: Thomas F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Cuddihy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D009043:Motor Activity; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011209:Power, Psychological; D011793:Queensland; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D057566:Self Report; D055815:Young Adult