Feasibility of an incentivised exercise program to improve the health of physically inactive Australian hospital employees – the Fitbites pilot study

Objective

To investigate the feasibility of a 10-week incentivised exercise program (Fitbites) to improve the health of hospital employees.

Methods

We recruited 20 employees who were deemed physically inactive from a busy, outer-metropolitan Australian hospital. They were invited to attend in-hours exercise sessions and redeem a healthy meal upon completing exercise as part of the Fitbites program, conducted between October and December of 2022. Feasibility and safety were assessed by evaluating attendance, meal redemption and completion of program. Pre- and post-program comparisons were made for body composition, functional capacity and blood parameters.

Results

Among the 20 participants included in the study, 16 (80%) completed the program and were included in the analysis (2 were lost to follow-up, 2 withdrew). On average, employees attended 2.5 sessions per week. Most of the meal vouchers were redeemed (94.5%). All workdays and exercise sessions were well attended. There were decreases in body mass index (mean difference: −0.6 kg/m²) and fat mass index (−1.3 kg/m²), and increases in skeletal mass index (0.8 kg/m²) and 6-Minute Walk Test (45.9 m).

Conclusions

The Fitbites program showed acceptable uptake and led to improvements in body composition and functional capacity. These findings inform future randomised trials in occupational settings.