Backgrounds: This study aimed to explore the effect on physical activity and sedentary behavior of users of wearable devices, and understand the association between physical activity and behavior.
Methods: This study conducted a three-arm, randomized controlled trial for 12 weeks. Healthy adults without experience of using a wearable device were recruited and were randomly assigned to a control group with a mobile app and two experimental groups with different smart wearable devices. Data were collected through questionnaires.
Results: No significant effect of group, time, or group-by-time interaction among groups for physical activity, sedentary time, or sleep quality was found. Wearing duration significantly positively predicted changes in low-intensity and total physical activity. The number of times the device was checked negatively predicted a change in sedentary time.
Conclusions: The behavior of wearable device users is an essential factor for successfully increasing physical activity and decreasing sedentary time.
Keywords: Exercise; Health behavior; Healthy lifestyle; Sedentary behavior; Technology.
© 2021. International Society of Behavioral Medicine.