A Pilot Study to Promote Active Living among Physically Inactive Korean American Women.

This was a pilot study of 40 women randomized, and the authors state that an adequately powered randomized trial is needed. The main activity outcomes were self-reported, and the Fitbit step data had no baseline before week 1. Follow-up was only 4 weeks, so the study did not test whether changes were maintained. Both groups received counseling, healthy eating guidance, weekly challenge sheets, and Fitbit, so the study does not show which parts of the common program produced the overall increases. Participants were Korean American women aged 40-69 who used KakaoTalk and were in the contemplation or preparation stage for activity, so results may not apply to others. The WALK-plus group had lower baseline encouragement from people they met and less prior regular physical activity than the WALK-regular group. The engagement comparisons were exploratory associations, not tested causes.

The supplied text reports no conflicts of interest; no funding source is listed.

Do not conclude that the online community alone caused the 1.4-day increase in muscle-strengthening days. Both groups received one-on-one counseling, healthy eating guidance, weekly challenge sheets, and Fitbit self-monitoring, and weekly step counts did not differ between groups. This was a pilot, so the finding needs confirmation.