A study published online April 7, 2024 Circulation It seems that adults can profit from incentives to be more lively. Researchers recruited greater than 1,000 adults who were vulnerable to having a heart attack or stroke over the following 10 years. Participants used a fitness tracker for 2 weeks to determine a baseline variety of each day steps. Each then set a goal to extend their average each day steps by 33%, 40%, 50%, or any number above 1,500 steps.
After setting their goals, participants were randomly divided into 4 groups. Three groups were offered incentives for reaching their goals. One received game-like rewards, one other received financial rewards, and a 3rd received a mix of each. A control group wore fitness trackers but received no incentives. The game and financial rewards consist of individuals earning or losing points or money depending on whether or not they meet their each day step goal. The control group received a each day text telling them whether or not they were meeting their goal.
Over the course of a 12 months, participants within the fitness tracker control group increased their each day step count by a mean of 1,500 steps. In contrast, people in all incentive groups improved their each day steps by 2,000 to 2,400 steps. This amount of increase is predicted to be related to a ten% reduced risk of death from heart attack or stroke. The study highlighted how discovering your individual ways to reward yourself can increase each day physical activity.
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