Comparing Two Different Methods to Prescribe Exercise

Practical interventions are needed to increase physical activity (PA) levels in insufficiently active individuals. HEAT is a randomized controlled trial comparing two different exercise prescription (ExRx) methods to increase PA volume among insufficiently active UConn students. Students will be randomized to two groups: (1) ExRx#1 will emphasize meeting the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans via the Frequency, Intensity, Time, and Type or FITT principle of ExRx; and (2) ExRx#2 will be founded in the Integrated Behavior Change Theory and based on the 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines Review Committee Scientific Report heat map which emphasizes that all PA counts. HEAT aims to assess the effectiveness of each ExRx individually and comparatively to one another for each outcome measure. We hypothesize that UConn students in ExRx#2 will increase PA volume more than ExRx#1 in response to the 12wk ExRx due to its foundation in the IBC. If our hypothesis proves correct we aim to inform healthcare providers on university campuses on which method of ExRx is more effective at increasing PA participation among their insufficiently active students.