OBJECTIVES: To determine whether the active living every day (ALED-I) internet-delivered theory-based physical activity (PA) behavior change program increases PA and improves cardiometabolic disease risk factors (CDRF) in sedentary overweight adults. METHODS: The study was a randomized control trial that took place in southern Wyoming and northern Colorado from 2005 to 2007. Thirty-two men and women (21 to 65 years) were randomized to a 16-week ALED-I intervention (n = 14; age 41.4 +/- 3.7 years; BMI 32.3 +/- 1.3 kg/m2) or a delayed intent-to-treat control condition (n = 18; age 49.4 +/- 1.7 years; BMI 30.6 +/- 0.8 kg/m2). At baseline and post-intervention, PA by pedometer and CDRFs were measured. RESULTS: Both groups had similar baseline PA levels. ALED-I increased PA by an average of 1384 steps/day (p = 0.03) compared to 816 steps/day (p = 0.14) for the control group. Waist circumference (100.6 +/- 2.4 versus 96.6 +/- 2.7 cm) and Coronary Risk Ratio (5.1 +/- 0.3 versus 4.7 +/- 0.3) decreased in the ALED-I group and did not change in the control group (99.2 +/- 2.2 versus 99.8 +/- 2.1 cm) and (3.7 +/- 0.1 versus 3.7 +/- 0.1), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The internet-delivered ALED program increased PA and improved some CDRFs in sedentary overweight/obese adults. To our knowledge, this is the first efficacy trial of the internet-delivered ALED program. Further studies are warranted due to the reach and cost-effectiveness of internet-delivered PA programs.
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