Impact of Self-Preference Community Fitness Interventions in High-Risk African Americans

Fam Community Health. 2016 Oct-Dec;39(4):251-62. doi: 10.1097/FCH.0000000000000117.

Abstract

African Americans have a high prevalence of obesity and physical inactivity, but few interventions have been successful in the long term. We describe a 1-year intervention program to increase physical activity and reduce cardiometabolic risk. Interventions incorporated the premise that self-selection into flexible venues and varying exercise modalities would result in improvement in fitness and risk factors. Results of this single-group pretest/posttest observational study show 1-year overall group reductions in body weight and body mass index and cardiometabolic factors including high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and increases in dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry-derived absolute and percent lean mass and lean-fat ratio, and decreased fat mass.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Black or African American
  • Early Medical Intervention / methods*
  • Exercise / physiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Obesity / prevention & control*
  • Risk Factors