American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine 1 Promoting Lifestyle Physical Activity: Experiences With the First Step Program

vol. X • no. X … there has been a growing interest in the delivery of lifestyle-based programs that offer individuals flexibility in how, when, and where they obtain their physical activity. Abstract: The purpose of this article is to describe a pedometer-based physical activity intervention (and the research that has been conducted on this pro-gram) to provide insight into workable strategies focused on promoting lifestyle physical activity. The First Step Program (FSP) is a facilitated theory-based behav-ior modification program, originally developed for individuals with type 2 diabetes, that capitalizes on the unique properties of a pedometer to serve as a stimulus for walking and an instru-ment for individual goal setting, self-monitoring, and feedback. Formative evaluation revealed that participants were highly enthusiastic about the pro-gram, and pilot testing demonstrated an immediate and dramatic increase in walking behavior (by approximately 3700 steps/d or 34 minutes of walk-ing per day). A randomized and con-trolled evaluation produced similar results, as have head-to-head compari-sons of participant outcomes produced by professional versus peer delivery, and adaptations of the program to work site and community-based delivery. The effec-tiveness of the FSP can be explained by a thoughtful consideration of pedometer characteristics, program features, and the people who participate. Sustained deliv-ery is contingent on funding sources and administrative structures that support for-malized implementation