MAP to Health: a digital program to help adults stay physically active
Official title: An Optimization Trial of a Meaning and Theory-Based Digital Intervention to Increase Physical Activity (MAP to Health)
Funded at Healthpartners Institute · NIH-11339984 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A digital program uses personal meaning and self-determination-based support to help adults 21+ stay physically active over time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Healthpartners Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bloomington, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 1, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $803,912 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AG100027-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11339984 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21 years and older who are willing to use a digital intervention and wear an accelerometer to track activity.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals who are unable to use digital tools or who do not engage with behavior-change content may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project builds on previous work showing that personalized messages about why staying active matters and supportive, autonomy-affirming strategies can boost long-term activity. In a refined 4-by-4 factorial design, about 368 midlife adults will be randomly assigned to one of 16 versions of the MAP to Health program to test which combinations best sustain activity. The intervention uses digital, timely prompts that reinforce personal meaning for activity and meet people’s needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness. The study follows participants over time to identify which features most effectively maintain 150 minutes of activity per week.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, MAP to Health could offer a scalable digital tool to help adults maintain healthy activity levels and improve aging outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary testing suggested the approach has promise but requires refinement before a larger trial; results from ORBIT-guided behavioral design are building the evidence base.
Where this research is happening
-
Healthpartners Institute
Bloomington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hooker, Stephanie a — Healthpartners Institute
- Study coordinator: Hooker, Stephanie a
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.