Snacktivity intervention to promote physical activity and reduce future risk of disease in the population
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN64851242 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN64851242 |
| IRAS number | 285836 |
| Secondary identifying numbers | CPMS 46654, IRAS ID 285836 |
- Submission date
- 08/01/2021
- Registration date
- 13/01/2021
- Last edited
- 11/07/2025
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Overall study status
- Ongoing
- Condition category
- Other
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims:
There is strong evidence that being active and sitting less is important for health. Guidance states that adults should, over a week, complete at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous-intensity physical activity (30 minutes per/day) in periods of 10 minutes or more. However, few people manage this which puts their health at risk. This is concerning and new ways are needed to help people to be active daily. The reason why so few people are meeting the current physical activity guidance may be because they have to make big changes to their lifestyle, which can be too difficult. An alternative is an idea we have called Snacktivity. Rather than encouraging people to do 30 minutes of physical activity each day in one go, or in 10-minute periods, snacktivity focuses on encouraging people to do small physical activity ‘snacks’, throughout the day so they achieve 150 minutes of activity per/week. The aim of this study is to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the Snacktivity intervention.
Who can participate?
80 inactive adults who are eligible to receive an NHS Health Check from general practices (East and West Midlands), and from services offered by Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (BCHC)
What does the study involve?
Participants will be randomly allocated to receive standard advice about physical activity (large changes) or encouragement to achieve their physical activity by Snacktivity (small changes). The researchers will promote Snacktivity in the intervention group by giving participants a physical activity tracker to help monitor their Snacktivity and overall physical activity, and access to an App called SnackApp that prompts people to participate in Snacktivity. The researchers will measure physical activity at the start of the study and 12 weeks later.
A physical activity ‘snack’ typically lasts between 2 to 5-mins. This could be walk-talk conversations, walking coffee breaks, using stairs rather than the lift, pacing whilst using the telephone, or parking the car a little further away and walking to a destination. An important benefit of Snacktivity over current physical activity guidance is that Snacktivity encourages breaking up sitting time throughout the day. Snacktivity may also help develop people’s confidence to try to become regularly physically active, and small changes are easier for people to initiate and then maintain, than large changes.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
It is hoped that the intervention will encourage participants to be more physically active which may improve their health. The researchers do not expect any risks from taking part in this study.
Where is the study run from?
1. Loughborough University (UK)
2. University of Birmingham Clinical Trials Unit (UK)
3. University of Leicester (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
August 2018 to October 2025
Who is funding the study?
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Prof. Amanda Daley
a.daley@lboro.ac.uk
Contact information
Scientific
National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine (NCSEM)
School of Sport, Exercise and Health Science
Epinal Way
Loughborough
LE11 3TU
United Kingdom
 ORCID ID |
0000-0002-4866-8726 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +44 (0)1509 226353 |
| a.daley@lboro.ac.uk |
Scientific
Senior Trial Manager
Birmingham Clinical Trials Unit
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
United Kingdom
| Phone | +44 (0)121 415 9100 |
|---|---|
| r.a.griffin@bham.ac.uk |
Study information
| Study design | Randomized; Interventional; Design type: Treatment, Education or Self-Management, Device, Other |
|---|---|
| Primary study design | Interventional |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study setting(s) | Home |
| Study type | Prevention |
| Participant information sheet | No participant information sheet available |
| Scientific title | Snacktivity to promote physical activity and reduce future risk of disease in the population (work package 3 – feasibility trial) |
| Study objectives | The aim of work package 3 is to undertake a randomised feasibility trial with nested qualitative interviews to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the Snacktivity intervention. |
| Ethics approval(s) | Approved 15/01/2021, West Midlands – Edgbaston Research Ethics Committee (3rd Floor Barlow House, Minshull Street, Manchester, M1 3DZ, UK; +44 (0)20 7104 8112, +44 (0)207 104 8019, +44 (0)2071048089; edgbaston.rec@hra.nhs.uk), REC ref: 20/WM/0315 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Physical activity |
| Intervention | Current interventions as of 02/03/2021: Participants will be randomised to receive standard advice about physical activity (large changes) or encouragement to achieve their physical activity by Snacktivity (small changes). The researchers will promote Snacktivity in the intervention group by giving participants a physical activity tracker to help monitor their Snacktivity and overall physical activity, and access to an App called SnackApp that prompts people to participate in Snacktivity. The researchers will measure physical activity at the start of the study and 12 weeks later. A physical activity ‘snack’ typically lasts between 2 to 5 min. This could be walk-talk conversations, walking coffee breaks, using stairs rather than the lift, pacing whilst using the telephone, or parking the car a little further away and walking to a destination. An important benefit of Snacktivity over current physical activity guidance is that Snacktivity encourages breaking up sitting time throughout the day. Snacktivity may also help develop people’s confidence to try to become regularly physically active, and small changes are easier for people to initiate and then maintain, than large changes. Previous interventions: Participants will be randomised to receive standard advice about physical activity (large changes) or encouragement to achieve their physical activity by Snacktivity (small changes). The researchers will promote Snacktivity in the intervention group by giving participants a physical activity tracker to help monitor their Snacktivity and overall physical activity, and access to an App called SnackApp that prompts people to participate in Snacktivity. The researchers will measure physical activity at the start of the study and 12 weeks later. |
| Intervention type | Behavioural |
| Primary outcome measure | The feasibility of a subsequent phase III randomised controlled trial (RCT) according to pre-specified progression criteria. The researchers are primarily interested in whether: 1. The trial is appealing to participants (assessed by the recruitment rate) 2. The Snacktivity intervention is acceptable (measured by Snacktivity adherence) They also wish to assess: 3. The recruitment and randomisation processes 4. The extent of any intervention contamination These are all measured at the end of the trial. |
| Secondary outcome measures | 1. Moderate-vigorous physical activity measured using a research-grade wrist-worn accelerometer at baseline and 12-week follow up 2. Light physical activity measured using a research-grade wrist-worn accelerometer at baseline and after 12-week follow up 3. Total physical activity measured using a research-grade wrist-worn accelerometer at baseline and 12-week follow up 4. Sedentary time measured using a research-grade wrist-worn accelerometer at baseline and at 12-week follow up 5. Sleep time measured using a research-grade wrist-worn accelerometer at baseline and at 12-week follow up Other outcomes include: 1. Self-reported sedentary behaviours measured using the workforce Sitting Questionnaire (WSQ)) and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) at baseline and 12-week follow up 2. Lower limb muscle strength measured using a Takei dynamometer at baseline and 12-week follow up 3. Weight measured using SECA scales at baseline and 12-week follow up 4. Waist circumference measured using a tape measure at baseline and 12-week follow up 5. Blood pressure measured using a blood pressure monitor at baseline and 12-week follow up 6. Depression/anxiety measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale at baseline and 12-week follow up |
| Overall study start date | 01/08/2018 |
| Completion date | 19/10/2025 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Sex | Both |
| Target number of participants | Planned Sample Size: 80; UK Sample Size: 80 |
| Total final enrolment | 72 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Inactive (i.e. defined as not in employment or doing a sedentary job, AND completing less than 1 h of physical exercise, walking or cycling per week as measured by the General Practice Physical Activity Questionnaire [GPPAQ]) 2. Eligible for an NHS Health Check or have an appointment scheduled at one of the selected community health services detailed above 3. Able to provide informed written consent 4. Aged ≥18 years (all routes of recruitment) 5. Own a mobile phone capable of hosting apps (Apple and Android) 6. Agreement for their health care professional (HCP) to be notified of participant involvement in this study |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Unable to understand English sufficiently to complete the trial assessments 2. Women known to be pregnant or breastfeeding |
| Date of first enrolment | 12/07/2021 |
| Date of final enrolment | 30/09/2025 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- England
- United Kingdom
Study participating centres
Holt Street
Birmingham Science Park
Aston
Birmingham
B7 4BN
United Kingdom
Dudley
DY1 2QD
United Kingdom
Saltley
Birmingham
B8 1RE
United Kingdom
1 Bristol Rd S
Birmingham
B31 2GH
United Kingdom
Pinfold St
Darlaston
WS10 8SY
United Kingdom
Sponsor information
Hospital/treatment centre
3 Priestley Wharf
Holt Street
Birmingham Science Park
Aston
Birmingham
B7 4BN
England
United Kingdom
| Phone | +44 (0)1214666000 |
|---|---|
| BCHNT.ResearchInnovation@nhs.net | |
| Website | http://www.bhamcommunity.nhs.uk/ |
Funders
Funder type
Government
No information available
Results and Publications
| Intention to publish date | 31/03/2025 |
|---|---|
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
| IPD sharing plan summary | Available on request |
| Publication and dissemination plan | Planned publication in a high-impact peer-reviewed journal. Additional files are not available. |
| IPD sharing plan | The data from this study and the clinical trial on which this report is based will be available from the first author upon reasonable request: Professor Amanda Daley, a.daley@lboro.ac.uk. The type of data that will be shared: Anonymised trial data Dates of availability: From February 2025 Consent for publication was obtained from participants as part of the consent process. |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Protocol article | 17/03/2023 | 20/03/2023 | Yes | No | |
| HRA research summary | 28/06/2023 | No | No | ||
| Other publications | Qualitative results | 22/10/2024 | 29/10/2024 | Yes | No |
| Results article | 24/02/2025 | 25/02/2025 | Yes | No |
Editorial Notes
11/07/2025: The date of final enrolment was changed from 31/03/2022 to 30/09/2025.
25/02/2025: Publication reference added.
14/11/2024: The intention to publish date was changed from 31/03/2025.
29/10/2024: Publication reference added.
07/08/2024: IPD sharing plan and total final enrolment added.
20/06/2024: The intention to publish date was changed from 30/06/2024 to 30/11/2024.
20/03/2023: Publication reference added.
22/03/2022: The overall trial end date has been changed from 30/06/2024 to 19/10/2025 and the plain English summary has been updated accordingly.
03/12/2021: The recruitment end date has been changed from 31/12/2021 to 31/03/2022.
12/07/2021: The following changes have been made:
1. The trial participating centres "Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust", "Eve Hill Medical Practice", "Gate Medical Centre", "College Green Medical Practice" and "Darlaston Family Practice" have been added.
2. The recruitment end date has been changed from 30/07/2021 to 31/12/2021.
24/06/2021: The recruitment start date was changed from 30/06/2021 to 12/07/2021.
11/05/2021: The recruitment start date was changed from 01/05/2021 to 30/06/2021.
20/04/2021: The sponsor details were changed.
08/03/2021: The recruitment start date was changed from 01/03/2021 to 01/05/2021.
02/03/2021: The following changes have been made:
1. The sponsor name has been updated.
2. The interventions have been updated.
3. The plain English summary has been updated to reflect the changes above.
01/02/2021: Ethics approval and contact details added.
08/01/2021: Trial's existence confirmed by the NIHR.
