Survey of the Use of Pedometers and Knowledge of Caloric Intake and Expenditure

Background and Purpose. As the prevalence of obesity continues to rise, medical professionals are searching for ways to combat this epidemic. One of the first steps is to assess the activity levels and eating habits of those who are obese and look for ways to modify these two areas in order to assist the obese individual in achieving a desirable and healthy weight. The purpose of this study is to determine if pedometer use, gender, or body mass influence one\u27s knowledge of caloric consumption and expenditure. Subjects and Methods. 253 questionnaires were sent out to randomly selected faculty and staff at the University of North Dakota via email. The survey consisted of 18 questions on body composition, activity levels, pedometer usage, knowledge of caloric values and knowledge of caloric expenditure. Results. Of the 253 questionnaires sent out, 54 (20.3%) were returned and fit the criteria for inclusion in the study. Due to the low number of pedometer users responding, no analytical statistics were done to compare pedometer users with non-pedometer users. There was no significant difference found in knowledge of caloric intake and expenditure when analyzing by gender or obesity. Many interesting descriptive statistics were gathered regarding the use of pedometers and the subjects eating habits. Discussion and Conclusion. In those participants who do use pedometers there were no detrimental effects reported and there were various changes that occurred while using a pedometer that are associated with a healthier lifestyle. More research is necessary to find if implementing pedometers into daily routines for obese individuals will assist them in maintaining a healthy lifestyle