Abstract
PURPOSE Cross-sectional studies show that individuals who walk more tend to be thinner than those who walk less. This does not mean, however, that the association between higher step counts and lower weight is causal or that encouraging sedentary individuals to increase step counts helps them lose weight.
METHODS In this meta-analysis, we searched 6 electronic databases and contacted pedometer experts to identify pedometer-based walking studies without a dietary intervention that reported weight change as an outcome. We included randomized controlled trials and prospective cohort studies published after January 1, 1995, in either English or Japanese, with 5 or more adult participants and at least 1 cohort enrolled in a pedometer-based walking intervention lasting at least 4 weeks.
RESULTS Nine studies met the study inclusion criteria. Cohort sample size ranged from 15 to 106, for a total of 307 participants, 73% of whom were women and 27% of whom were men. The duration of the intervention ranged from 4 weeks to 1 year, with a median duration of 16 weeks. The pooled estimate of mean weight change from baseline using a fixed-effects model and combining data from all 9 cohorts was −1.27 kg (95% confidence interval, −1.85 to −0.70 kg). Longer intervention duration was associated with greater weight change. On average, participants lost 0.05 kg per week during the interventions.
CONCLUSION Pedometer-based walking programs result in a modest amount of weight loss. Longer programs lead to more weight loss than shorter programs.
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Footnotes
Conflicts of interest: none reported
Funding support: A grant from the National Institutes of Health (K23 HL075098) provided funding for this study. The University of Michigan Medical School Student Biomedical Research Program (SBRP) supported Tiffany Newton’s time.
Preliminary data on the meta-analysis were presented as a poster at the American College of Sports Medicine 2006 Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado, on June 3, 2006. The abstract was published in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise in 2006, volume 38, page S120.
- Received for publication February 21, 2007.
- Revision received June 22, 2007.
- Accepted for publication August 7, 2007.
- © 2008 Annals of Family Medicine, Inc.