A Randomized Pilot Test of “Moms on the Move”: A Physical Activity Intervention for WIC Mothers

Background: Sedentary mothers are important to reach with physical activity promotion.

Purpose: This study pilot tested “Moms on the Move,” a Transtheoretical Model (TTM)-derived physical activity (PA) intervention for low-income mothers enrolled in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program.

Method: Sedentary mothers (N = 44) were randomized to (a). Moms on the Move (PA intervention) or (b). counseling on self-breast examination (control). Pre- and posttest measurement (baseline and 2 weeks after the 8-week interventions) included (a). stage of PA behavior change, (b). PA behavior, (c). selected TTM constructs, and (d). social support. Pre- and postdifference scores, chi-square, and one-way analyses of variance (ANOVAs) were used.

Results: The experimental group progressed in stage of change more than control, chi2(1, N = 44) = 20.50, p <.001. The experimental group had greater PA behavior: weekly minutes of PA, F(1, 42) = 46.85, p <.001; daily energy expenditure (EE), F(1, 42) = 23.01, p <.001; and weekly moderate PA EE, F(1, 42) = 32.63, p <.001. Experimental subgroup (n = 11) step counts increased pre-post, t(10) = 6.16, p <.001. An ANOVA showed that the experimental group had greater improvements in all TTM constructs and social support, ps <.001.

Conclusions: WIC mothers are at risk for sedentary living and have not been targeted for PA behavior change using a provider-counseled approach. Although further testing is needed, Moms on the Move appears to be efficacious.