Designing a behavioral science intervention to drive daily movement and habit formation via wearable technology.
Many patients with sedentary lifestyles opt for screen time and inactive behaviors, leading to adverse health effects such as an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and weight gain.
I designed an intervention to encourage physical activity among patients with a history of heart disease and sedentary habits for a line of wireless-enabled wearable technology—primarily physical fitness monitors and activity trackers.
My research identified that users often struggle with maintaining consistent exercise habits due to a lack of motivation and accountability. Behavioral science suggests individuals are more likely to adhere to exercise routines when supported by social accountability, competition, and tangible goal-setting.
Because setting and achieving daily step goals proved to be the key behavior driving user engagement, we introduced “Challenges”—a feature designed to help users maintain consistent movement by participating in structured, goal-oriented challenges.
Users were categorized into intrinsic or extrinsic motivational profiles based on their personal values:
“Challenges” was positioned as a fun, motivating way to stay active and connect with friends, family, and fellow users. Tailored text messages were delivered based on each user's motivational profile:
Extrinsic Motivator Trigger:
“You're just 2,000 steps away from breaking your group’s record. That’s just 10 minutes of walking to reach the top of the leaderboard!”
Intrinsic Motivator Trigger:
“A small stroll today means more playtime with your granddaughter tomorrow!”
By combining behavioral science insights with a targeted product marketing strategy, this feature drove sustained user engagement, fostered community, and empowered patients to achieve lasting health milestones.