Fit Physicians: Use of Activity Monitors and Activity Integration Program in First Year Medical Students (FitPhysician)

Fit Physicians: Use of Activity Monitors and Activity Integration Program in First Year Medical Students

Fit Physicians: A Novel Physical Activity Integration Program to Improve Fitness and Activity in Medical Students: A Randomized Pilot Study

Using FitBit activity monitors, physical activity levels will be monitored in first year medical students. Body Composition will be measured as well.

Using fitness trackers and exercise testing, it will determine if participating in a novel program that incorporates wellness into the academic term will improve fitness. An estimate, 120 students will enroll in this study. Men and women aged 18-55 years of age that are just entering medical school. Students who are currently pregnant will not be allowed to participate in this study. Participation will involve 2 visits at the start of the academic school year, and two visits at the end of the academic school year. These visits will entail you undergoing a body composition scan measured by an duel energy x-ray absorptiometry (iDEXA) machine. The scan takes approximately 15 minutes. Subjects may be asked to perform an exercise stress test on a treadmill. The exercise test is approximately 40 minutes. Subjects may be asked to participate in a fitness program 2x a week, and may be asked to wear a Fitbit Flex™ activity tracker on the wrist for the duration of the school year. Investigators will be accessing academic grades to use for statistical purposes only. Subject names will never be given to any other party other than the investigators involved.

Subjects will receive activity monitor and will be required to attend monthly wellness lectures and weekly exercise intervention. Every subject will undergo an iDEXA scan to measure body mass composition

Subjects will receive an activity monitor without any intervention Every subject will undergo an iDEXA scan to measure body mass composition )

Subjects will not an activity monitor nor will they receive any intervention Every subject will undergo an iDEXA scan to measure body mass composition

Subjects in the Fit physician arm and the activity monitor arm will receive activity monitors to assess their activity level throughout the academic year

Inclusion Criteria: First year medical students Must have smartphone Exclusion Criteria: Medical conditions that prohibit exercise pregnancy

DiFrancisco-Donoghue J, Jung MK, Stangle A, Werner WG, Zwibel H, Happel P, Balentine J. Utilizing wearable technology to increase physical activity in future physicians: A randomized trial. Prev Med Rep. 2018 Sep 11;12:122-127. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2018.09.004. eCollection 2018 Dec. Erratum In: Prev Med Rep. 2020 Dec 10;20:101282.