Technology and the measurement of health
Our team are experts in developing digital health interventions that provide feedback to the public about their health and our research is exploring methods of objectively assessing physical activity and movement.
Technology has been revolutionising our society for centuries. The recent integration of digital health technology into modern life (e.g. smartphones and physical activity trackers) has led to an increased effort to apply these technologies to health improvement.
Our internationally renowned team of experts are employing cutting-edge, innovative methods to understand how to best utilise technology to increase physical activity and reduce time sedentary in the population. Our team is at the forefront of shaping how best to use these technologies within national health policy and practice.
Theme leads


Research spotlight
2023
- Sanders JP, Gokal K, Thomas JJ, Rawstorn JC, Sherar LB, Maddison R, Greaves CJ, Esliger D, Daley AJ and Snacktivity Investigators, 2023. Development of a Mobile Health SnacktivityTM App to Promote Physical Activity in Inactive Adults (SnackApp): Intervention Mapping and User Testing Study. JMIR Formative Research, 7, p.e41114. DOI: 10.2196/41114
2021
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Sanders, J.P., Biddle, S.J., Gokal, K., Sherar, L.B., Skrybant, M., Parretti, H.M., Ives, N., Yates, T., Mutrie, N., Daley, A.J. and Snacktivity Study Team, 2021. ‘Snacktivity™’to increase physical activity: Time to try something different?. Preventive Medicine, 2021; 153, 106851 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2021.106851
Digital apps
Wearable technology
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Cambridge Network: Largest ever study using wearable devices finds physical activity is beneficial for health, and more intense activity is better
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Affixxius Films: Novel sensor developed at Loughborough University
- Netherlands eScience Center: Making sense of wearable accelerometer data by Vincent van Hees
Snacktivity
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Loughborough University: Can a ‘snacktivity’ approach to physical activity reduce people’s future risk of disease?
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Snacktivity™ to promote physical activity. Funded by NIHR. Led by Amanda Daley.
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The health benefits of Snacktivity™. Led by Jonah Thomas.
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Measuring Engagement with mHealth tools: A systematic review of methodologies – Led by James Sanders.
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ADAPTIVE: Context-aware ADAptive Physical acTivity interVEntions using model predictive control – Led by James Sanders.