Posted Feb 17, 2009
Small cash incentives could motivate older adults to walk, according to a study by researchers at RTI International.
More than 500 inactive adults aged 50 and older about their preferences regarding walking. Questions included how long they would be willing to walk and whether they preferred to walk alone or in a group.
“Physical inactivity is a major driver of costly health problems, especially in older adults,” said Derek Brownthe study’s lead author. “Our results show that a small incentive could significantly increase walking among older adults … resulting in health improvements.”
The researchers found that the most participants preferred a walking program that involved three days of activity per week at 20 minutes per day, and they preferred to not be part of a group. The study showed that offering an incentive of $9 per week increased predicted participation by 31 percent.
Date: Feb 14, 2009
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