Due to high rates of physical activity program dropout and low rates of physical activity participation, researchers have been working for years to discover what helps people engage in physical activity long-term.

Recently the Internet has been recognized as a successful mechanism for implementing programs promoting physical activity adherence. Researchers at Kaiser Permanente recently found that using an interactive website helped participants lose and maintain weight.

The website included opportunities to self-monitor progress, chat with other participants on an online bulletin board, set goals, learn how to get support, and get feedback. Over the 30 month program, individuals who visited the website more consistently, not only utilized more components of the website, but showed better weight outcomes at the end of the program.

What does this mean for you?

Getting active and staying active is not always easy. You have tools and resources available to support you. One of those resources is the website. The behavior change skills you learn during book club meetings can be supplemented using the interactive tools on the Fit Minded website.

Like the program offered by Kaiser Permanente, Fit Minded offers opportunities for you to monitor your progress (by logging your pedometer steps), chat with other participants, get the support you may need to stay active, and get feedback. The website also offers updated fitness and nutrition information so that you can learn more about staying healthy and can try new things.

Using an interactive tool, like the Fit Minded website (or other websites), may help you to stay on track and meet your goals related to becoming physically active and maintaining this activity for the rest of your life. And remember, the more you use a tool such as the web, the more likely you are to be successful.

Reference: Funk, K.L., Stevens, V.J., Appel, L.J., Bauck, A., Brantley, P.J., Champagne, C.M., & . . . Vollmer, W.M. Associations of internet website use with weight change in a long-term weight loss maintenance program. J Med Internet Res, 12(3), e29.