Effect of a WhatsApp walking trial on daily steps among female Saudi Arabian university students.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Physical inactivity in Saudi women is high, even among young women (60% of university students are physically inactive). We aimed to investigate the effect of a physical activity intervention on daily walking among female students at a Saudi university.

Methods

Two hundred and seven female students (mean age: 22.6 ± 1.3; body mass index: 24.6 ± 5.9) participated in a parallel-group randomized trial. The intervention group wore pedometers and received health-promotion messages for 12 weeks through WhatsApp^®; the control group received a similar number of messages unrelated to health. Average daily steps and self-reported activity were assessed at baseline and after 3 months. Analysis followed an intention-to-treat approach. Group differences in average da

SUBMITTER: Saquib J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9986880 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar-Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature