1. Intervention Effects on Latinas' Physical Activity and Other Health Indicators
- Author
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Carolina Labarca, Hala Madanat, Ming Ji, Jeanne F. Nichols, John P. Elder, Elva M. Arredondo, Lisa Cuestas, Marisa Molina, Caryn Sumek, Sandra Elvira, Margarita Holguin, Thomas L. McKenzie, and Guadalupe X. Ayala
- Subjects
Gerontology ,Adult ,Male ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Waist ,Epidemiology ,Population ,Psychological intervention ,Blood Pressure ,Health Promotion ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,medicine ,Humans ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Longitudinal Studies ,education ,Exercise ,Health Education ,Life Style ,education.field_of_study ,030505 public health ,business.industry ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,Attendance ,medicine.disease ,Obesity ,Health indicator ,Health equity ,Physical Fitness ,Cohort ,Physical therapy ,Female ,Waist Circumference ,0305 other medical science ,business - Abstract
Introduction U.S. Latinas do not engage in sufficient leisure-time physical activity. This study examined whether adding promotor-facilitated healthy lifestyle classes to an exercise intervention would promote exercise session attendance and improve health indicators. Methods The Familias Sanas y Activas II (Healthy and Active Families II) study used a within-subjects, longitudinal design, with measures at baseline and at 6 and 12 months post-baseline. The intervention was developed by the San Diego Prevention Research Center and implemented between May 2011 and June 2014 in South San Diego County. Three organizations each hired a part-time coordinator and trained volunteer promotores (six to ten per organization) to deliver the intervention in various community locations. A convenience sample of 442 Latinas were in the evaluation cohort. Measured variables included a step test, blood pressure, waist circumference, height, and weight; physical activity was self-reported. Results Attendance at healthy lifestyle classes was positively associated with exercise session attendance ( p ≤0.001). Mixed effects models showed improvements in systolic and diastolic blood pressure ( p ≤0.001); waist circumference ( p ≤0.001); weight ( p ≤0.05); and BMI ( p ≤0.05) between baseline and 12 months. At 12 months, fewer participants met clinical guidelines for being hypertensive and having an at-risk waist circumference. Exercise session attendance was associated with improved fitness ( p ≤0.05) and increased self-reported MET minutes of leisure-time physical activity ( p ≤0.01). Conclusions The intervention represents an effective strategy for improving the health status of Latinas, a population with significant health disparities, including high obesity rates. Research efforts are needed to assess methods for scaling up such interventions.
- Published
- 2016