Challenge
Despite high intentions to exercise, 84% of women in our trial weren't meeting CDC minimum guidelines for physical activity.
"I want to exercise, but finding the time feels impossible..."
Research Approach
To address the significant gap between exercise intentions and actual behavior among mothers, I designed and conducted a rigorous research project:
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Program Development
Developed MOVE (Mothers Online Video Exercise), an innovative program where mothers could exercise together in pairs over video calls from their home.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Conducted an 8-week randomized controlled trial with 64 mothers, randomly assigned to either the MOVE intervention group or a control group with access to freely available exercise web and video content.
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Comprehensive Measurement
Collected data on physical activity levels, program adherence, depression symptoms, and qualitative feedback to assess multiple dimensions of the intervention's impact.
Key Results
95% Retention
The MOVE program achieved a remarkable 95% retention rate throughout the 8-week intervention, far exceeding typical retention rates for physical activity programs.
56-Minute Increase
Participants in the MOVE program increased their weekly physical activity by an average of 56 minutes compared to the control group.
Reduced Depression
The intervention led to significant reductions in depression symptoms over 6 weeks among mothers in the intervention arm compared to the control.
Key Discoveries
Social Connection Drives Engagement
Group accountability emerged as the primary motivator for program attendance, with 78% of participants citing it as their main reason for showing up.
"I liked having the time set out for me to do the workout and having other people 'keeping me company'. That was a HUGE motivator."
Technology Eliminates Barriers
The home-based approach using video calls removed common obstacles to exercise for mothers, such as childcare needs, travel time, and gym anxiety.
"Working out from home, having accountability, the 'come as you are' mentality, the other gals were great!"
Scheduled Commitment
Having a fixed schedule created the structure needed for mothers to prioritize their exercise time among competing demands.
"Having it scheduled into my calendar made me stick to it. If it was just something I needed to do on my own time, it would never happen."
Translation Into Action
The success of the MOVE research program led to a publication and a direct path for commercial development:
Research Recognition
The MOVE study results were published in a highly regarded peer reviewed journal as a demonstration of a successful solution to a significant public health challenge.
Knowledge Contribution
The research contributed insights to the fields of behavioral science and health technology by showing the power of digital tools that incorporate human connection.
Product Development
I leveraged findings from the MOVE study to develop Movejoy, a scalable platform that facilitated virtual exercise connections between users.
Venture Capital Funding
Based on the compelling research results, I raised $500,000 in venture capital funding to translate the successful research into a commercial product.
Research Impact
The MOVE study demonstrated that a simple intervention—connecting mothers for virtual exercise sessions—could dramatically increase physical activity levels and improve mental health outcomes. By addressing the specific barriers that mothers face, including time constraints, childcare needs, and motivational challenges, the program achieved exceptional results.
Perhaps most importantly, the research showed that social accountability was the critical ingredient in driving behavior change, rather than the specific exercise content. This insight shifted our understanding of effective physical activity interventions for time-strapped people and led directly to the development of Movejoy, a commercial platform designed to scale these benefits more broadly.