OBJECTIVE: To examine the efficacy of a physical activity behavioral intervention for improving outcomes of body composition in persons with MS. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of data from a randomized controlled trial. SETTING: University research laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: The sample included 82 ambulatory persons with MS. INTERVENTION: A 6-month internet-delivered, physical activity behavioral intervention designed to increase lifestyle physical activity, primarily walking. The behavioral intervention was based on principles of social cognitive theory (SCT). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Main outcome measures included whole body bone mineral content (BMC), bone mineral density (BMD), and soft tissue composition, using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). RESULTS: There were no significant differences between conditions post-trial on body composition outcomes using the adjusted critical value (p < 0.008). There was a significant effect of the intervention on whole body BMC (p = 0.04, omega2 < 0.001) and BMD (p = 0.01, omega2 = 0.003) using the unadjusted critical value (p < 0.05). The effect of the intervention on percent body fat (p = 0.09, omega2 = 0.001) and whole body fat mass (p = 0.05, omega2 = 0.003) approached significance using unadjusted criteria. There was not a significant effect on whole body lean soft tissue (p = 0.28, omega2 < 0.001) or body mass index (BMI; p = 0.86, omega2 < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide preliminary evidence that an internet-delivered lifestyle physical activity intervention might improve bone health and body composition in MS. Such findings are important considering physical activity is a modifiable behavior and the potential long-term benefits for the prevention and management of fracture risk and comorbidities among those with MS.

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