PURPOSE: Increase physical activity in health care employees using health messaging, and compare e-mail with mobile phone short-message service (SMS) as delivery channels. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: UK hospital workplace. SUBJECTS: Two hundred ninety-six employees (19 to 67 years, 53% of study web site visitors). INTERVENTION: Twelve-week messaging intervention designed to increase physical activity and delivered via SMS (n = 147) or e-mail (n = 149); content tailored using theory of planned behavior (TPB) and limited to 160 characters. MEASURES: Baseline and 6, 12, and 16 weeks. Online measures included TPB constructs, physical activity behavior on the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire, and health-related quality of life on the Short-Form 12. ANALYSIS: General linear models for repeated measures. RESULTS: Increase in duration (mean h/d) of moderate work-related activity and moderate recreational activity from baseline to 16 weeks. Short-lived increase in frequency (d/wk) of vigorous recreational activity from baseline to 6 weeks. Increase in duration and frequency of active travel from baseline to 16 weeks. E-mails generated greater changes than SMS in active travel and moderate activity (work and recreational). CONCLUSION: Minimal physical activity promotion delivered by SMS or e-mail can increase frequency and duration of active travel and duration of moderate intensity physical activity at work and for leisure, which is maintained up to 1 month after messaging ends. Both channels were useful platforms for health communication; e-mails were particularly beneficial with hospital employees.

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