![](https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/communityleisureuk/images/noline.gif) |
Immediate rewards can motivate people to exercise, finds new research
24 Apr 2024
Short-term incentives to exercise, such as using daily reminders, rewards or games, can lead to sustained increases in activity, according to new research.
Researchers found that even a simple daily reminder encouraged people to move more, while offering financial incentives or point-based rewards was even more effective. Combining the two was the most powerful and led to participants logging improvements in activity levels six months after the rewards stopped, suggesting the intervention helped to form habits.
Supported by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), the study took place between 2019 and 2024 and was published in the journal Circulation. More than 1,000 adults, with an average age of 67, who were at elevated risk for major cardiovascular events were monitored via fitness trackers. Their daily step count increased by more than 1,500 a day after a year on the programme and they did an extra 40 minutes of moderate exercise each week.
This is sufficient for a 6 per cent reduced risk of premature death and a 10 per cent reduced risk of cardiovascular-related deaths. “Even moderate exercise can drastically reduce cardiovascular risk, so finding low-cost ways to get people moving and stay in a fitness programme that they can do at home if needed is a huge win for public health,” said Alison Brown, a programme officer at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, part of NIH.
Participants set goals to increase their daily steps by 33 per cent, 40 per cent, 50 per cent, or any amount greater than 1,500 steps from their starting point and were divided into four groups. Three groups were offered incentives, including game-like rewards, financial rewards, or a combination of the two.
In the game group, participants received points for meeting their daily step goals and could move up a level. Those who missed their targets lost points and moved down a level. At the end of the study, adults who reached the highest levels by meeting their daily step goals received trophies.
In the financial group, each participant received US$14 each week, but lost US$2 a day if they did not meet their step targets. The third group received game-like and financial incentives.
The fourth group – a control group – received no incentives but got the fitness tracker, along with daily messages that noted their step count.
Participants could also enlist a support crew, such as family or friends, who would receive weekly updates about their progress.
Each intervention lasted for 12 months followed by a six-month follow-up period where all participants received the daily messages.
Prior to the study, all participants logged an average of around 5,000 daily steps, or 2.4 miles. After 12 months, they increased their daily step count, as previously explained, by more than 1,500, or three-quarters of a mile.
Compared to the control group, the game-incentive group walked an extra 538 steps from their baseline amount, while those who received financial incentives walked an extra 492. The group who received both incentives averaged 868 extra steps and maintained an average 576 more daily steps six months later.
Study author, Alexander Fanaroff, said: “This research shows it’s easier to think about today than the future, whether it’s exercising more to support long-term heart health or saving for a future goal, such as college or retirement.”
As a result, researchers recommend supporting people to change their behaviours by finding ways to give immediate benefits or rewards for movement, including using exercise apps that provide daily reminders, enlisting family and friends for support and even creating scenarios where they give money away if they don’t meet their targets.
The research, called Effect of gamification, financial incentives, or both to increase physical activity among patients at high risk of cardiovascular events: The be active randomized controlled trial was conducted by researchers Alexander Fanaroff, Mitesh S Patel, Neel Chokshi, Samantha Coratti, David Farraday, Laurie Norton, Charles Rareshide, Jingsan Zhu, Tamar Klaiman, Julia Szymczak, Louise Russell, Dylan Small and Kevin Volpp
back
|
Latest member news |
![](https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/communityleisureuk/images/darkblueline.png) |
![](https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/communityleisureuk/images/noline.gif) |
New pilot to tackle hypertension
A collaboration between two GP surgeries and Wave Active, the operator of local
sports and leisure centres, will see patients in Seaford, East Sussex with early
signs of hypertension undergo a programme of education and supervised physical
activity to reduce the risks of developing a health condition associated with
hypertension.
read more...
Online classes introduced for people recently out of hospital
Online live exercise classes will soon launch in Cheshire East targeting people
who have recently left hospital, are deconditioned (seen a decline in physical
function due to inactivity or bedrest) and/or unable to access their local health
and leisure services in-person.
read more...
Activity on referral ‘fastest growing membership’ type for Trilogy Active
Midlands based Trilogy Active who operate the NHS Activity of Referral Scheme
across Northamptonshire have shared that over 880 people are staying active after
being referred to the scheme by their GP.
read more...
Get fit for surgery
Each year, Edinburgh Leisure’s Active Communities programme uses the power of
physical activity to support over 12,000 disadvantaged people across the city to
improve their health and wellbeing.
read more...
Vitality programme grows by 40% in East Renfrewshire
East Renfrewshire residents have praised an exercise programme, aimed at
supporting those with medical conditions to be active and connected, whilst
increasing their fitness levels.
read more...
Worcestershire man loses almost half his body weight as part of incredible transformation
Sheldon Donavon, 32 from Malvern, who attends the Freedom Leisure centres in both
Worcester and Malvern, has lost over 13 stone in body weight.
read more...
Praise for Health for Heroes
An army veteran from Barrhead has praised East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure's
Health for Heroes initiative, which offers free health and wellbeing support for
veterans.
read more...
Conquering diabetes with GLL
Vinod Mistry is living proof that you can manage diabetes long-term through diet
and exercise - and go on to complete some of the world’s most gruelling physical
challenges.
read more...
|
![](https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/communityleisureuk/images/noline.gif) |
From quadruple bypass to confident gym user
David Irving knows the power of positive lifestyle change, thanks to support from
Everybody Health & Leisure.
read more...
High Life Highland Introduce Dynamic Wellbeing
High Life Highland has introduced a new class to its offering in Grantown-on-Spey
which is aimed at older adults who might benefit from some gentle exercise to help
them manage long term health conditions or mobility problems.
read more...
Horizon Leisure’s Wellbeing Hub celebrates first birthday
Charitable leisure trust, Horizon Leisure is celebrating the one-year anniversary
of the first-of-its-kind Health and Wellbeing Hub based at a shopping mall in
Havant.
read more...
£17M social value figure shows health & wellbeing contribution for Mytime Active
Social enterprise, Mytime Active, generated a social value in excess of £17
million for its neighbourhood economies last year.
read more...
Pendle Leisure Trust case study – Lighter and More Active
Alan was referred to the Up & Active Team six months ago via the Pendle Primary
Care Network health and wellbeing coach service.
read more...
From lifting weights to benefit menopause to paying closer attention to equipment for those with impairment – Burnley's new look knows no barriers
Burnley Leisure and Culture have recently upgraded even more facilities with both
St Peter’s and Padiham Leisure Centres newly refurbished gyms and cycling studios
re-opening recently.
read more...
Mytime Active and The Bromley Children and Families Voluntary Sector Forum join forces to Support Young Mums
Mytime Active is working in partnership with Bromley Children and Families
Voluntary Sector Forum (BCFF) to deliver twice-weekly free-swimming lessons for
young mums aged 15 - 24 and their babies.
read more...
Britain at the bottom of the class when it comes to school swimming
New research by GLL highlights the importance of children’s swimming lessons as
more primary schools reduce mandatory lessons.
read more...
|
Business partner news |
![](https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/communityleisureuk/images/darkblueline.png) |
![](https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/communityleisureuk/images/noline.gif) |
● | Charity Risk Focus
Welcome to the first edition of Charity Risk Focus — your update from
Gallagher’s Charities team, helping you stay ahead in today’s challenging
risk landscape.
...more
|
![](https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/communityleisureuk/images/noline.gif) |
![](https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/communityleisureuk/images/noline.gif) |
|
![](https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/communityleisureuk/images/noline.gif) |
Regional Meetings |
![](https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/communityleisureuk/images/lightblueline.png) |
![](https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/communityleisureuk/images/noline.gif) |
South West Regional Meeting
12 July 2024
|
Special Interest Groups |
![](https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/communityleisureuk/images/lightblueline.png) |
![](https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/communityleisureuk/images/noline.gif) |
i-Trent
8 July 2024
|
Health Learning Session (England)
9 July 2024
|
Health Scotland
10 July 2024
|
Carbon Literacy
11 July 2024
|
Social Value
16 July 2024
|
Safeguarding
18 July 2024
|
For more information about Special Interest Group and regional / national members meetings, please contact [email protected]
|
Job vacancies |
![](https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/communityleisureuk/images/lightblueline.png) |
![](https://www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/communityleisureuk/images/noline.gif) |
General Manager
Salary: £36,000 - £40,000pa + benefits
Location: Landore, Swansea, UK
Company: Tennis Swansea 365
Read more and apply
|
Sports Facility Manager - LSBU Active
Salary: £31,396 to £34,557, inclusive of £4,952 London Weighting
Location: London, UK
Company: London South Bank University
Read more and apply
|
Head of Operations
Salary: £56,107.80 - £63,165.86pa + benefits
Location: Dunfermline, UK
Company: Fife Sports and Leisure Trust Ltd
Read more and apply
|
Senior Leisure Officer
Salary: £41,418 - £48,474pa + local govt pension + benefits
Location: Honiton, UK
Company: East Devon District Council
Read more and apply
|
|