RAND Europe conducted an observational study using longitudinal data collected by AIA Vitality on its AIA Vitality members (September 2013 – July 2022) to explore the impacts of types of physical activity and wellbeing engagement on health outcomes, with a particular focus on body-mass index (BMI) and mental health as measured by the Kessler Psychological Distress 10-item Scale (K10).

The AIA Vitality Program in Australia

Assessing the association between engagement activities and changes in health outcomes

Frances Wu, William Phillips, Robert J. Romanelli, Stephanie Stockwell, Christian Van Stolk

ResearchPublished Sep 17, 2023

Low levels of physical activity are associated with poorer cardiometabolic health outcomes, such as high blood glucose, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity, and poor mental health outcomes, including depression and anxiety. Therefore, encouraging people to engage in higher levels of physical activity is likely to result in improvements in both their physical and mental health.

The AIA Vitality Program is a tailored health and wellbeing behavioural change program that aims to support insurance product members to make healthier choices through the use of financial incentives. We conducted an observational study using longitudinal data collected by AIA Vitality on its AIA Vitality members (September 2013 – July 2022) to explore the impacts of different types of physical activity and wellbeing engagement on health outcomes, with a particular focus on body-mass index (BMI) and mental health as measured by the Kessler Psychological Distress 10-item Scale (K10). We also conducted secondary analysis exploring the relationship between physical activity and wellbeing engagement and cardiometabolic risk markers (total cholesterol, blood pressure and random blood glucose levels).

Key Findings

Relationships between activities and BMI:

Any physical and general online activity (such as mental health assessments and nutrition assessments), but not mental fitness activity, were associated with improvements in BMI, overall, and especially for members whose baseline BMI is in the overweight or obese range.

Relationships between activities and K10 Score:

Any physical activity and general online activity, but not mental fitness activity, were associated with improvements in K10 Score, regardless of baseline K10 Score.

Relationships between activities and cardiometabolic indicators:

Advanced-speed activities were associated with improved control of Total Cholesterol. No other associations were observed between programme activities and cardiometabolic indicators.

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Wu, Frances, William Phillips, Robert J. Romanelli, Stephanie Stockwell, and Christian Van Stolk, The AIA Vitality Program in Australia: Assessing the association between engagement activities and changes in health outcomes. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2023. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA2621-1.html.
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The research described in this report was prepared for AIA Australia Vitality and conducted by RAND Europe.

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