eMOTION: Examining Implicit Attitudes in Physical Activity Engagement

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · Jun 23, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial, called eMOTION, is looking at ways to help adults who are overweight or obese become more physically active by changing their automatic feelings and thoughts about exercise. The study aims to see if these changes in attitude can lead to people moving more in their daily lives. It is open to adults aged 18 and older who live in the United States, have a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or higher, currently do less than an hour of structured exercise each week, and are interested in starting a physical activity program.

Participants will be asked to wear a Fitbit Versa smartwatch every day throughout the study to track their activity and complete short surveys on the watch. To join, participants must have a smartphone and internet access, be able to read and understand English, and be willing to wear the provided Fitbit instead of any other device. People who cannot safely exercise or use the watch, are pregnant, or have certain cognitive difficulties won’t be eligible. This study is still recruiting, and if you join, you’ll be part of a program designed to support and encourage more physical activity through changes in mindset and behavior.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Aged ≥ 18 years
• • 2. Reside in the United States
• • 3. Self-reported BMI ≥ 25
• • 4. Current structured physical activity engagement \< 60 minutes per week
• • 5. Own a personal smartphone device
• • 6. Reside in an area with Internet or Wi-Fi connectivity during the study period
• • 7. Able to speak and read in English
• • 8. Interested and willing to start a physical activity program
• • 9. Willing to wear a Fitbit Versa smartwatch provided by the study team everyday continuously (including at work and during physical activity), in place of any Fitbits or smartwatches previously worn, for the duration of the study period
• • 10. Able to read the small font on a smartwatch screen without glasses, or willing to carry reading glasses during physical activity for the purpose of reading the smartwatch screen
• • 11. Enrolled in the parent eMOTION intervention study
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Inability to provide informed consent due to cognitive disability
• • 2. Inability to engage in one or more key treatment components, including those with medical conditions that preclude physical activity engagement or who cannot wear an accelerometer on the wrist or answer brief surveys on the smartwatch for any reason
• • 3. Current pregnancy
• • 4. Referred to the study by another participant or from Reddit.