Encouraging Women To Walk 10,000 Steps Each Day

Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Also Included In: Sports Medicine / Fitness;  Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness
Article Date: 04 Jan 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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If you're like millions of other Americans who made a New Year's resolution to lose weight, you know how hard it can be. Most of us start out with good intentions, but we have a hard time sticking with it. That's why some researchers are trying a new approach. They're using cell phones to not only help women drop a few pounds, but also cut their risk of more serious problems.

As a personal trainer, Sherrie Gelser knows just how hard it can be to get in shape. A lot of people are motivated at first, she says, but the trick is to make it last.

"You have to talk yourself into doing it. After you have done it, it's like, I feel so much better," says Gelser.

When you can't talk yourself into exercising, it helps to have someone else do it. That's the idea behind an innovative study at Ohio State University's Comprehensive Cancer Center. Researchers want women to walk 10,000 steps each day - and they're calling them every day on their cell phones to remind them why they're doing it.

"The messages are all tied to psychological theories, so we help people set goals to try and troubleshoot problems and give them encouragement," says Prabu David, PhD, at Ohio State University's Comprehensive Cancer Center.

The study is designed for older women - those who've already gone through menopause - and it's meant to do more than just help them shed a few pounds. Experts say carrying extra weight at this age can carry much bigger risks.

"Women who don't exercise or are overweight tend to have a higher risk or higher chance of developing breast cancer," says Electra Paskett, PhD, at Ohio State University's Comprehensive Cancer Center.

In an effort to ultimately prevent breast cancer, researchers will do what Sherrie does every day - try to encourage others to stay fit, one step at a time.

During the study, women will be split into two groups. One will get phone messages to encourage them to exercise. The other group will also meet face-to-face to talk about their efforts with a coach. Researchers want to see which group is most likely to stick with the program and lose weight.

Ohio State University Medical Center