Physical activity can delay or prevent the onset of chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease. However the majority of adults in England do not meet the current government recommendation of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week. See our research projects listed below for the full range of interventions we have developed that aim to increase physical activity.

Current Projects

Very Brief Interventions (VBI)

A 5-year NIHR funded programme to develop and evaluate very brief interventions (VBIs) to increase physical activity that could be delivered by a practice nurse in an NHS Health Check or other primary care consultation. More…

Buddy Up

Buddy Up is a feasibility study of a buddy intervention for postnatal physical activity. Postnatal women are recruited in pairs to receive three paired physical activity counselling sessions using motivational interviewing techniques. The intervention aims to utilise the buddy system for participants to support each other to become more active.

Selected Publications

Precious

Precious is a multidisciplinary, EU-funded project using modern sensor technology and behavioural sciences to improve motivation for health behaviours. Precious design draws from motivational interviewing, self-determination theory, and gamification. The personalised system learns about the individuals goals and preferences, and adapts its recommendations. The BSG is analysing the physical activity data collected from Precious users with n-of-1 multilevel modelling, time-series analysis, and mixed methods. More…

Propels

PROPELS is a four year RCT which aims to increase physical activity among people at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The trial tests the DESMOND “Walking away from diabetes” programme plus text message support for increasing objectively measured physical activity. More…

Previous Projects

Get Moving

Get Moving is a randomised controlled trial designed to test the feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness of three ‘remote’ interventions to increase physical activity and fitness over 12 weeks, and to investigate the psychological and cognitive mechanisms of self-monitoring. More…