Text Messaging: An Intervention To Increase Physical Activity Among African American Participants In A Faith-Based, Competitive Weight Loss Program

Keywords

African Americans; Behavioral theory; Health behavior; Health communication; Health disparity; Health education; Obesity; Physical activity; Public health; Text messaging

Abstract

African American adults are less likely to meet the recommended physical activity guidelines for aerobic and muscle-strengthening activity than Caucasian adults. The purpose of this study was to assess whether a text message intervention would increase physical activity in this population. This pilot study used a pre-/post-questionnaire non-randomized design. Participants in a faith-based weight loss competition who agreed to participate in the text messaging were assigned to the intervention group (n = 52). Participants who declined to participate in the intervention, but agreed to participate in the study, were assigned to the control group (n = 30). The text messages provided strategies for increasing physical activity and were based on constructs of the Health Belief Model and the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills Model. Chi square tests determined the intervention group participants increased exercise time by approximately eight percent (p = 0.03), while the control group’s exercise time remained constant. The intervention group increased walking and running. The control group increased running. Most participants indicated that the health text messages were effective. The results of this pilot study suggest that text messaging may be an effective method for providing options for motivating individuals to increase physical activity.

Publication Date

4-1-2017

Publication Title

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Volume

14

Issue

4

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14040326

Socpus ID

85016571261 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85016571261

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS