Research: Pedometer use may help with weight loss.

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Pedometer use promotes weight loss success.

Pedometer

Pedometer

Emerging evidence suggests that being overweight and obese will increase your risk of all-cause mortality.   I know this is all-cause, but the elevation of risk is likely due to heart disease and diabetes type 2.   Exercise should induce healthy changes that would result in a reduction in such risks.  Although pedometer intervention is effective in increasing physical activity among adults with Type 2 diabetes, the usages impact on weight loss remains unclear.  

The good news is that new research in the form of a meta‐analysis look to assess whether pedometer intervention promotes weight loss[1].  The researchers used data from eleven randomized controlled studies with 1258 subjects that were overweight or obese.  The intervention in all studies was the use of a pedometer.  Pedometer intervention led to significantly decreased BMI and reduced weight.  Dietary counseling seemed to be a key predictor of weight loss, but pedometer use also helped.  Unfortunately, step count was not associated with successful weight loss or a lower BMI.  

The bottom line: Pedometer intervention promotes modest weight loss, but the association between weight loss physical activity is limited. Although pedometer intervention is a promising approach for promoting weight loss, future studies are needed to clarify how the use of pedometers may assist with weight loss in overweight and obese adults with Type 2 diabetes.  I recommend you consider adding a pedometer to your exercise plans.  

References

[1]
X. Cai et al., “Pedometer intervention and weight loss in overweight and obese adults with Type 2 diabetes: a meta-analysis,” Diabet. Med., vol. 33, no. 8, pp. 1035–1044, Mar. 2016 [Online]. Available: 10.1111/dme.13104″ target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/dme.13104
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About the Author

ChuckH
I am a family physician who has served in the US Army. In 2016, I found myself overweight, out of shape, and unhealthy, so I made a change to improve my health. This blog is the chronology of my path to better health and what I have learned along the way.

1 Comment on "Research: Pedometer use may help with weight loss."

  1. Starting walking 4-5 miles a day and 10,000 – 12,000 steps based only my pedometer readings.

    Lost over 30 pounds so far!

     

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