Minutes in motion: motivating a community to move.

Introduction: "Minutes in Motion" (MIM) was a community-based exercise challenge designed to recruit a large number of people to increase their physical activity for 6 weeks. We examined participant characteristics that improved the likelihood of success.

Methods: This program challenged community members to engage in 30 minutes of physical activity every day for 6 weeks.

Growing healthy families: family use of pedometers to increase physical activity and slow the rate of obesity.

Objective: We conducted a study to determine if wearing a pedometer affects weight, body mass index (BMI), or mediators of physical activity among families.

Methods: Eighty-seven families were randomized to 1 of 3 treatments: pedometer plus education (PE), pedometer (P), or control (C). Participants in the PE and P groups wore pedometers and were encouraged to walk 10,000 steps daily for 12 weeks.

Functional fitness, disease and independence in community-dwelling older adults in western Wisconsin.

Objective: Older adults are at higher risk for developing chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, or arthritis. Despite the aging process, maintaining independence is a major goal for older adults. Functional fitness has been found to be predictive of one's ability to perform necessary everyday activities needed to maintain independence.

Is knowing enough? Increasing physical activity by wearing a pedometer.

Objective: Physical inactivity is a health concern in the United States with nearly 70% of the population getting inadequate amounts of exercise. We set out to determine if wearing a pedometer could significantly increase awareness and amount of physical activity among female employees at a large health care setting.

Methods: Employees purchased a pedometer, completed a survey, and were encouraged to walk 10,000 steps daily.

A smoking cessation clinic with a 57% success rate: what makes it work?

Objective: To describe an outpatient smoking cessation clinic, and what predicts participant success.

Methods: In 1999, a 12-week smoking cessation clinic was begun. In 2000, the duration was expanded to include an additional 12 weeks of relapse prevention.