IBC Study Finds Benefits In Organized Walking Program

A structured walking program that offered encouragement and support improved participants' mood and energy levels and even led to the shedding of a few pounds, a study by Independence Blue Cross found.

The research, which was published June 27 in the American Journal of Health Promotion, involved about 460 randomly chosen employees.

Half the participants worked for companies insured by IBC with managers who typically put up posters or offered other passive walking encouragement. The other half were employed at sites that added coaching, feedback, and competitive challenges.

Employees at the "enhanced program" locations averaged 726 steps more a day and were more likely to reach 10,000 daily steps, a goal that is widely accepted by activity experts. The degree of structure varied from location to location, and the analysis compared the two groups against each other; there were no controls.

The study found that an increase of 1,000 steps a day, measured by accelerometers, was associated with a loss of 3.8 pounds averaged over the nine months for men and 2.1 pounds for women. Body Mass Index also improved, as did self-reported mood and energy level.

Lead author Aaron Smith-McLallen, an IBC manager and research scientist, said the findings showed that a well-managed walking program could be maintained over a significant period of time and had positive health benefits for employees.

- Rita Giordano

EndText