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Purpose/Hypothesis: To determine the effectiveness of a structured ten-week program of exercise and nutritional guidance on quality-of-life measures amongst the general population. Methodology: The study was designed as a quantitative analysis utilizing a non-experimental approach with survey research. The SF-36 (Short Form Quality of Life questionnaire) was distributed to Farrell's Bodyshaping Program participants across the United States to complete at the beginning of a ten-week session and also at the conclusion. The survey was electronically delivered anonymously through Qualtrics Software and all results were exported to an excel spreadsheet for statistical analysis through Stata SE 15.1. Results: Significant changes in quality-of-life measures were shown after a structured nutrition and supervised ten-week exercise program (aerobic and resistance training) amongst the 250 subjects. The most significant findings included the subcategories of emotional limitation and physical limitation with the largest mean change from pre to post survey. Conclusion: A structured exercise and nutritional program positively affected the subjects' quality of life. Physical, cognitive, emotional, and social aspects were all significantly affected by Farrell's ten-week structured program. Emotional limitation and energy and fatigue categories demonstrated the most significant change over the ten-week program. Clinical Relevance: A combined structured program of nutrition and fitness is beneficial to several different age groups with diverse medical histories. A structured program that combines these two wellness components has positive effects on physical, social, and emotional health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends exercise to prevent falls in community-dwelling adults aged ≥ 65 years at increased fall risk. However, little is known about how best to implement exercise programs in routine care when a patient's need for exercise is identified within the healthcare system. Methods: Using a qualitative approach, we reviewed the literature to determine how exercise programs to prevent falls are implemented from the vantage point of a health care setting. We synthesized descriptive information about each program with data on program features and implementation difficulties and facilitators. Results: We found that programs sponsored by primary care providers (PCPs) or specialists may help with recruitment into exercise programs. PCPs have the opportunity to identify people at risk and promote participation since most older adults regularly visit, and inquire about exercise from, their physicians. In terms of referral options, both home-based and group-based exercise programs have been shown effective in preventing falls; however, each approach carries strengths and limitations. Home-based programs can include participants who are reluctant or unable to attend group classes and can be individually tailored, but provide less opportunity for supervision and socialization than classes. Adherence to programs can be encouraged, and attrition minimized, through positive reinforcement. Successful programs ranged in expense for exercise sessions: a weekly class combined with exercises at home cost < $2 per participant per week, while frequent individual sessions cost > $100 per participant per week. Conclusions: With increasing attention to population-based health management in the United States, clinicians and health system leaders need a deeper understanding of how to link patients in their healthcare systems with appropriate community programs. This review identifies key characteristics of successful fall prevention exercise programs that can be used to determine which local options conform to clinical evidence. In addition, we highlight tradeoffs between program options, such as home versus group exercise programs, to allow referrals to be tailored to local conditions and patient preferences. Finally, our work highlights the key role of the PCP in recruiting patients to participate in exercise programs, and identifies options, such as registries, to support referrals to the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]