201. Promoting physical activity in a multi-ethnic district - methods and baseline results of a pseudo-experimental intervention study.
- Author
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Karen Jenum A, Lorentzen C, Anderssen SA, Birkeland KI, Holme I, Lund-Larsen PG, Ommundsen Y, Raastad T, Thelle DS, and Bahr R
- Subjects
- Cardiovascular Diseases ethnology, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 epidemiology, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ethnology, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Norway epidemiology, Prevalence, Research Design, Socioeconomic Factors, Surveys and Questionnaires, Cardiovascular Diseases prevention & control, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 prevention & control, Exercise, Health Behavior ethnology, Health Promotion
- Abstract
Background and Design: A combined community and high-risk intervention study of three years duration started in one district in Oslo after a baseline health survey in two multi-ethnic and low socio-economic status (SES) districts, using a pseudo-experimental design with an age-matched sample from the other district as controls. The intervention focused on promoting physical activity to reduce the burden of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD)., Methods: A total of 6140 subjects were invited to participate (age group: 31-67). Data on health status and health-related behaviours, collected via standardized questionnaires, physical examinations and blood sample analyses, were available for 2950 persons (attendance rate 48%), whereas official statistics were available for the invited population., Results: The prevalence of self-reported diabetes was 5.1% in men and 3.5% in women, but the total diabetes prevalence was 9% for men and 5.1% for women. One-third of the population were sedentary in their leisure time, men more than women (38% versus 29%). The prevalence of obesity did not differ between the genders (21% had BMI 30 kg/m(2)). The relatively high mean scores on most psychosocial variables related to physical activity, especially among women, indicate a high motivational readiness for increase in physical activity behaviour. The baseline data, for example on the prevalence of chronic diseases were similar in the two districts., Conclusion: The prevalence of self-reported diabetes is remarkably higher than reported from other studies in Norway. The proportion of undiagnosed diabetes was higher than anticipated, and constituted 39% of all those categorized as diabetics.
- Published
- 2003
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