<jats:p>Background: Advanced sensor technology, such as commercial wearable activity trackers, is expected to be useful for improving public health in an aging society. However, its effects on psychological and behavioral changes in older adults have not been thoroughly investigated. Objective: This study aimed to clarify the effects of wearable activity trackers on psychological and behavioral changes in older adults before the pandemic and to confirm whether the effects were maintained during the pandemic. Method: Thirty Japanese older adults wearing Fitbit trackers for 12 weeks (i.e., six weeks before the pandemic and six weeks during the onset of the pandemic) in a real-life setting participated in this study. Participants’ perceptions of physical activity (PA) and monitoring were measured weekly using a questionnaire in addition to the pre-monitoring survey (baseline). Results: Significant positive effects of activity trackers were observed on participants’ awareness of the benefits of PA and motivation toward monitoring from the first week, and high levels were maintained until the end of the study, regardless of the pandemic. Accordingly, an approximately 3,000-steps/day increase was observed in the first week and maintained before the pandemic; although PA levels decreased during the onset of the pandemic, they remained higher than at baseline. The decrease in the number of steps and activity calories in COVID-19-non-affected participants was 2%. In the affected participants, an 11% decrease in steps and an 8% decrease in activity calories were observed, indicating that 3% was compensated by other activities. Conclusion: Positive effects of activity trackers were observed on older adults’ awareness of PA benefits. Thus, future studies are required to verify the effects of increased PA benefits awareness on older adults’ long-term activity levels for their health.</jats:p>

The habituation of physical activity is considered as primary chronic disease prevention in public health. The university students' physical activity levels are insufficient. Therefore, their physical inactivity is receiving more attention around the world. People could be more aware of their unhealthy behaviour if they get feedback, and they are likely to change it. This study investigates the effects of self-activity monitoring with real-time feedback on university students' awareness of physical activity and overall health status and explores the physical activity trends. For this purpose, forty Japanese university students participated in the trial wearing activity trackers for 12 weeks in a real-life setting. Two measures were used to assess participants' awareness of physical activity and overall health status: (1) a general questionnaire to detect overall changes in the participants' self-reported health status and physical activity levels before and after the trial, and (2) a weekly questionnaire to explore the changes in the participants' awareness of their physical activity during the trial term. Overall, some items of the participants' self-reported status improved after the trial. However, during the trial, the positive effects of self-monitoring physical activity were not clearly identified on the participants' awareness of the contribution and enhancement of physical activity or the condition which inhibiting them from doing it. There were more negative changes than positive ones in participants' awareness related to willingness to monitor physical activity and sleeping time. Accordingly, the participants' steps and activity calories did not have positive trends. The university student's awareness of physical activity could not be increased by real-time feedback. Therefore, they should be educated about physical activity and its health impact to increase their awareness.