Obesity and physical inactivity will soon replace cigarette smoking as the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. A major factor is the replacement of physically active behaviors with sedentary consumption of electronic media. The Principal Investigator has developed wireless embedded technology making media access (television, computers, cell phones) contingent upon physical activity detected by automatic sensors. The method thus simultaneously decreases sedentary and increases active behaviors. Physical activity meeting a remotely programmable criterion results in the accretion of points that are transferable to electronic accounts maintained on devices regulating access to media. Importantly, the user need not be connected to the media device during the physical activity; thus, a wide variety of activities can be accommodated. The embedded processors enable the implementation of an individually-tailored reinforcement schedule allowing the user to begin an exercise program at their appropriate fitness level and progress incrementally toward a more rigorous goal through approximation.
The Specific Aims of this application are to: 1) make improvements to the technology, 2) confirm the precision of the exercise sensors, 3) create objective measures using the sensors, 4) test the effect of the intervention in the laboratory, and 5) conduct home-based reliability tests.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Small Business Innovation Research Grants (SBIR) - Phase I (R43)
Project #
3R43DK070482-01S1
Application #
7285154
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1)
Program Officer
Densmore, Christine L
Project Start
2005-09-01
Project End
2007-05-31
Budget Start
2006-09-01
Budget End
2007-05-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2006
Total Cost
$24,300
Indirect Cost
Name
Mediabalance, Inc.
Department
Type
DUNS #
144939647
City
East Lansing
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48823