Researchers Aim to Help Adults Become More Active

Though too much sitting or lying down increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes and some cancers, sedentary screen time consumes more than half of Americans’ discretionary time outside of work and sleep. Sarah Keadle, a kinesiology and public health professor, and her colleagues hope to improve public health by determining the best ways to reduce how much time adults spend watching TV, streaming videos or engaging in other online activities.

Keadle’s approach is new in that past studies aimed at decreasing sedentary screen time (SST) have largely focused on reducing workplace sitting.

Keadle will be working with Matt Buman, a health behavioral interventionist at Arizona State University, and Center for Health Research investigators Suzanne Phelan and Todd Hagobian to develop and test approaches to reduce SST. The core intervention will include self-monitoring and behavioral goal to reduce SST by 50%. Researchers will also test three different behavioral components strategies, receiving adaptive text messages, being locked out of further screen time or earning back screen time through exercise. The ultimate goal is to reduce sedentary screen time in adults ages 23-64 with overweight or obesity.

This is one of two new studies Keadle is currently overseeing, The second study assesses the accuracy of a mobile-based survey about daily activity.

For more information on either of Sarah Keadle's grants please contact Maria Legato at 805-756-5506 or mlegato@calpoly.edu