Efficacy of an E-Mail Intervention for the Promotion of Physical Activity and Nutrition Behavior in the Workplace Context
Abstract
Purpose.: The purpose of this study was to evaluate a 12-week workplace e-mail intervention designed to promote physical activity and nutrition behavior. Design.: A pre- and post-test design was conducted to compare the effects of e-mail messages between intervention and control groups. Setting.: Five large workplaces in Alberta, Canada. Subjects.: Employees with access to a personal e-mail address (N = 2121) were randomly assigned to an intervention (n = 1566) or a control group (n = 555). Intervention.: Physical activity and nutrition messages were based on social-cognitive theories. The intervention group received one physical activity and one parallel nutrition message per week for 12 weeks. The control group received no weekly messages. Measures.: Each participant completed self-report measures of physical activity and nutrition related to knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors 1 week before (time 1) and 1 week after (time 2) the intervention. Results.: The intervention group was more efficacious at time 2 on measures of self-efficacy, pros, cons, intentions, and behavior related to physical activity. This group also reported more favorable changes in practicing healthy eating, balancing food intake with activity level, cooking meals with techniques to reduce fat, and avoiding eating high-fat foods. Effect sizes for all significant differences were small. Conclusion.: E-mail is a promising mode of delivery for promoting physical activity and nutrition in the workplace. Further theoretically driven studies are needed.
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Six studies used multiple subjective measures of physical activity.
“One study used an objective measure to assess the amount of physical activity (activity monitor), and six studies used multiple subjective measures of physical activity.”
From Internet-based physical activity interventions: a systematic review of the literature. (2007) · cites this paper as [42]
In three studies, an Internet-based physical activity intervention was compared with a waiting list group.
“In three studies, an Internet-based physical activity intervention was compared with a waiting list group.”
From Internet-based physical activity interventions: a systematic review of the literature. (2007) · cites this paper as [42]
Of the three studies comparing an Internet-based intervention with a waiting list, two reported a significantly greater improvement in physical activity levels in the Internet-based intervention than in the control group.
“Of these three studies, two reported a significantly greater improvement in physical activity levels in the Internet-based intervention than in the control group.”
From Internet-based physical activity interventions: a systematic review of the literature. (2007) · cites this paper as [42]
Six studies used one or more theoretical models to compose the contents of the interventions.
“Six studies used one or more theoretical models to compose the contents of the interventions.”
From Internet-based physical activity interventions: a systematic review of the literature. (2007) · cites this paper as [42]
In two studies, the study sample included only those participants who completed both baseline and follow-up measurements, excluding dropouts from the analysis.
“In two studies [41,42], the study sample included only those participants who completed both the baseline as well as the follow-up measurements, excluding dropouts from the analysis.”
From Internet-based physical activity interventions: a systematic review of the literature. (2007) · cites this paper as [42]
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- Authors
- Plotnikoff, R. C., McCargar, L. J., Wilson, P. M., & Loucaides, C. A.
- Affiliations
- University of Alberta (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Plotnikoff, Ronald C.
- Venue
- American Journal of Health Promotion
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2005-07
- Volume
- 19
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 422-429
- ISSN
- 0890-1171 (ISSN-L)
- 2168-6602
- OpenAlex
- W2176596719
- Cited by
- 134
- References
- 41
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 13
- FWCI
- 20.27
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- American Journal of Health Promotion (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute for Nutrition and Health
- Health Canada
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Workplace Health and Well-being
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Behavioral Health and Interventions
- Keywords
- workplace health promotion, physical activity, nutrition behavior, healthy eating, social cognitive theory, self-efficacy, health behavior change, fat loss, employee health
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Alberta, Female, Health Benefit Plans, Employee, Health Promotion, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Program Evaluation, Exercise, Workplace, Electronic Mail, Nutritional Sciences
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