Professors Jon and Kathleen Poole are conducting a research study to determine if portable activity monitors can help with short-term weight loss. They are seeking volunteers among faculty and staff women ages 19-55 interested in getting in better shape, willing to attend a weekly "brown bag" noon seminar and to wear a portable activity monitor (about the size of an extra-large watch) throughout the day. Students, pregnant women and those with health conditions limiting physical activity are excluded.

The study will last 10 weeks. Each volunteer will receive a free health and fitness assessment worth more than $300 at the beginning and end of the study. This assessment will include a comprehensive body composition analysis, blood lipid profile and blood glucose screening. After the initial assessment, some participants will be selected to attend the weekly seminars, which will focus on weight-loss and healthy-eating topics that are part of the National Institutes of Health's "Aim for a Healthy Weight" program. Seminar participants will be eligible for drawings for fitness equipment such as yoga mats, hand weights and DVDs.

Participants will be randomly assigned to a control or intervention group, but all participants will receive the nutrition education materials either during or at the conclusion of the study. Total time commitment for selected participants is expected to be less than 15 hours in the intervention group and less than 4 hours in the control group. The research team will be available throughout the study for individual consultation.

Learn more by calling (540) 831-5557 or emailing kppoole@radford.edu by Friday, Oct. 19.