Competition can help overweight people get moving

Researchers asked 602 overweight and obese adults to wear step trackers and set goals to increase their daily steps. — AFP Relaxnews

People who are overweight or obese may get more physical activity when they participate in step-counting contests than when they simply use activity trackers to monitor their own steps, a recent experiment suggests.

Researchers asked 602 overweight and obese adults to wear step trackers and set goals to increase their daily steps. Then researchers sorted participants into four groups: one that only counted steps, and three different groups that also had games designed to inspire more movement through encouragement, prizes or competition.