ARS | Publication request: Use of an open-loop system to earn television-time and increase physical activity

Submitted to: Pediatric Exercise Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: December 23, 2011
Publication Date: September 14, 2012
Citation: Roemmich, J.N., Lombarinas, C.L., Barkley, J.E., White, T.M., Paluch, R., Epstei, L.H. 2012. Use of an open-loop system to earn television-time and increase physical activity. Pediatric Exercise Science. 24(3):384-398.

Interpretive Summary: This study evaluated whether an open-loop system that reinforces physical activity with TV watching would increase children’s physical activity. Non-overweight, sedentary boys and girls (8-12 y) were randomized to a group that wore activity monitors and received feedback of activity counts + reinforcement for physical activity by providing access to television (F+R, n=20); to a group that received feedback of physical activity from an activity monitor, no reinforcement (F, n=20) or to a group that wore the activity monitor, but the display was turned off so they served as a no feedback, no reinforcement control (C, n=21) group. Children wore the activity monitors for 4-months with a 1-year follow-up. F+R reduced TV by 68 min/day and TV time was lower than the F and C groups. TV time of F+R remained 31 min lower than baseline at 1-year. F+R had a 44% increase in physical activity, which was greater than the feedback and control groups. An open-loop system decreases TV viewing and increases physical activity of children for 4-months. TV of the F+R group remained lower at 12 months, suggesting a reduction in screen-time habits.

Technical Abstract: This study evaluated the effectiveness of an open-loop system that reinforces physical activity with TV watching to increase children’s physical activity. Non-overweight, sedentary boys and girls (8-12 y) were randomized to a group that received feedback of activity counts + reinforcement for physical activity by providing access to television (F+R, n=20); or to feedback, no reinforcement (F, n=20) or no feedback, no reinforcement control (C, n=21) groups. Children wore an accelerometer with a count display for 4-months with a 1-year follow-up. F+R reduced TV by 68 min/day and TV time was lower than the F (p<0.005) and C (p<0.002) groups. TV time of F+R remained 31 min lower (p<0.02) than baseline at 1-year. F+R had a 44% increase in physical activity, which was greater than the feedback (p<0.04) and control (p<0.01) groups. An open-loop system decreases TV viewing and increases physical activity of children for 4-months. TV of the F+R group remained lower at 12 months, suggesting a reduction in screen-time habits.