Technology to Help Promote Physical Activity

In a recent "call to action" for a National Physical Activity Plan, the American Heart Association (AHA) highlighted a sedentary lifestyle as a leading cause of death worldwide.2 Accordingly, performing regular moderate-to-vigorous physical activity may be as important as decreasing blood pressure, serum cholesterol, body weight, and hemoglobin A1c in diabetics to reduce the risk of CVD. [...]it appears that being unfit warrants consideration as an independent risk factor and that a low level of cardiorespiratory fitness or aerobic capacity increases the risk of CVD to a greater extent than merely being physically inactive.3 Health care providers as well as the entire clinical staff play an important role in recommending and promoting regular physical activity. Patients who use Facebook to interact with others to share information, advice, and support about healthy lifestyles are generally more physically active than their nonuser counterparts.6 Moreover, increased informational support through Twitter is also associated with greater weight loss.6 Smartphone Apps and Self-Monitoring Devices Self-monitoring devices such as heart rate monitors or pedometers can provide patients with instantaneous positive feedback and the motivation to increase physical activity.6 A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials in type 2 diabetics showed that pedometer use was associated with an additional 1,822 steps/day (2,000 steps is ~ 1 mile).8 More complex activity trackers such as FitBit, Basis, Jawbone, Garmin, Mio Global, or apps on smartphones which use Global Positioning System such as RunKeep or Strava Running and Cycle offer more sophisticated fitness gadgets for those who are technologically inclined.