A new study reveals that pairing mindfulness practice with step tracking can significantly increase the desire to exercise—potentially offering a breakthrough for millions struggling to stay active. This research, conducted by the Centre for Motivation and Behaviour Change at the University of Bath, found that even short bursts of daily mindfulness delivered through a free mobile app helped participants build not only physical activity, but also lasting motivation, which is considered critical for long-term health transformation. The findings were published in the journal Mental Health and Physical Activity on April 8, 2025, and are prompting experts to reimagine how technology and psychology can work together to tackle global inactivity.
Many Thais—including busy professionals, students, and retirees—struggle to make exercise a regular habit, even while understanding its health benefits. This research is particularly timely: Thailand is facing rising rates of non-communicable diseases like diabetes and heart disease, with studies showing that regular physical activity is essential for prevention and wellbeing (WHO Thailand). However, as lifestyles become more sedentary, the “intention gap”—the difference between knowing we should exercise and actually wanting to—remains stubbornly wide.
In the Bath study, 109 UK adults who did not meet recommended activity levels were divided into two groups. All wore step trackers and aimed for 8,000 daily steps over a month. But one group also participated in daily 10-minute mindfulness sessions focused on body awareness, movement, and exercise, accessible through the free smartphone app Medito, developed with the Medito Foundation. The key findings: while both groups boosted their activity, those using mindfulness averaged 373 minutes of moderate exercise per week, versus 297 minutes for the tracker-only group. More importantly, the mindfulness group reported a much stronger intention to continue exercising after the study ended—a psychological shift that experts say is crucial for lasting lifestyle change.
As lead researcher from the University of Bath’s Department of Psychology explains, “Our findings show that even short-term mindfulness training combined with step-tracking can make people want to move more, which could have lasting benefits. Helping people build that internal drive towards behaviour is essential—especially at a time when many people are struggling to stay active.” (SciTechDaily summary)
Intentions, psychologists emphasize, are one of the strongest predictors of future behavior. The study co-author from Bath’s Department for Health notes, “This is an exciting first study that combines mindfulness training with strategies designed to help people move more and internalize their motivation for physical activity. There is a lot of potential here and we are keen to refine these tools to make them more engaging and effective—especially for people balancing competing demands.”
For Thais, the combination of step-tracking—a feature many already have in their smartphones or wearables—and mindfulness training, which aligns with Buddhist traditions, could be remarkably effective. Practices like “walking meditation” (เดินจงกรม) have been respected for centuries in Thai culture for sharpening body-mind awareness and fostering calm. Integrating digitally guided mindfulness exercises with daily movement could therefore feel both familiar and accessible for Thais of all ages, from monks in rural temples to office workers in Bangkok.
This approach is particularly promising in the Thai context, where public health campaigns—such as the “60 min a day exercise” push by the Ministry of Public Health (ThaiHealth)—have struggled to overcome motivational barriers. While apps like Medito are not yet widely used in Thailand, similar local projects or collaborations could adapt these findings into the Thai language and cultural setting.
Globally, inactivity is a rising epidemic. According to the World Health Organization, more than a quarter of adults worldwide fail to reach recommended activity levels, contributing to millions of preventable deaths each year (WHO Physical Activity Fact Sheet). In Thailand, a 2022 government survey found nearly 30% of citizens are insufficiently active, especially among urban dwellers and teens (Bangkok Post). The costs are measured in lost productivity, higher healthcare burdens, and reduced quality of life.
Crucially, the University of Bath study found that simply tracking steps improved exercise levels—but mindfulness added the “secret sauce,” raising internal motivation. “What’s exciting,” says the study’s lead, “is that adding a mindfulness component to step-tracking seems to help people mentally commit to being more active—laying the foundation for future behavior change. We are particularly excited to have worked with a non-profit collaborator, which means the mindfulness program is freely available to anyone who wishes to try it for themselves.”
The research was conducted over 30 days, so longer-term benefits remain to be studied. The team at Bath is now exploring how to make mindfulness training even more appealing and relevant for diverse populations—work that could inspire Thai innovators and policymakers.
For Thai readers looking for practical action: consider pairing your daily step goals with mindfulness practice, even for just 5 or 10 minutes. Free apps like Medito, or local equivalents, offer guided sessions which can complement traditional practices such as mindfulness of breathing (อานาปานสติ) or walking meditation. Schools, companies, and community centers could develop simple programs encouraging staff and students to track steps while practicing mindfulness—a synthesis of technology and tradition. Such efforts could support the government’s goal of building a healthier, more active society, while also nurturing mental wellbeing.
As technology and psychology continue to intersect, the lesson from the latest science is clear: getting active is not just about moving the body, but also about cultivating the mind. By embracing both, Thais may discover a more sustainable and enjoyable path to lifelong health.
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