A randomized trial to increase physical activity among native elders. The Alberta moving beyond breast cancer (AMBER) cohort study: a prospective study of physical activity and health-related fitness in breast cancer survivors Awareness of Canada's Physical Activity Guide to Healthy Active Living in a Large Community Sample Multi-level support for physical activity and healthy eating. The economic burden of physical inactivity in Canada. Perceived barriers and enablers to participation in a community-tailored physical activity program with Indigenous Australians in a regional and rural setting: a qualitative study Physical activity and functional limitations in older adults: a systematic review related to Canada's Physical Activity Guidelines A Family-based Intervention to Promote Healthy Lifestyles in an Aboriginal Community in Canada Personal, social, and environmental correlates of physical activity in adults living in rural south-west England: a cross-sectional analysis Improving physical fitness and emotional well-being in adolescents of low socioeconomic status in Chile: results of a school-based controlled trial. The effect of physical activity on mortality and cardiovascular disease in 130 000 people from 17 high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries: the PURE study A culturally adapted physical activity intervention for Latinas: a randomized controlled trial. The Alberta Physical Activity and Breast Cancer Prevention Trial: quality of life outcomes. The 'Women's Lifestyle Study', 2-year randomized controlled trial of physical activity counselling in primary health care: rationale and study design Effectiveness of a computer-tailored print-based physical activity intervention among French Canadians with type 2 diabetes in a real-life setting. Developing and Piloting the Journey to Native Youth Health Program in Northern Plains Indian Communities Tu Salud, ¡Si Cuenta!: Exposure to a community-wide campaign and its associations with physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption among individuals of Mexican descent.
OBJECTIVE Physical inactivity is common among older population s and American Indians . Our objective was to compare two methods for increasing physical activity and walking among American Indian elders . METHODS We conducted a two arm r and omized trial to increase physical  activity in 125 American Indians aged 50 - 74 years at the Seattle Indian Health Board in 2005 . Participants were r and omized into either an activity monitoring ( N=63 ) or activity monitoring with a pedometer ( N=62 ) arm over a six-week period . Outcomes included self-reported physical activity and well-being , and the 6-min walk test . RESULTS There were no group differences in self-reported physical activities and well-being . The 6-min walk test yielded no between-group differences . All participants increased the frequency of leisure walking ( p<0.01 ) , frequency of all exercise-related activities ( p<0.01 ) , frequency of moderate-intensity exercise activities ( p<0.01 ) , and improved weekly caloric expenditure for all exercise activities ( p<0.05 ) by the end of the trial . CONCLUSIONS Pedometers did not confer enhanced performance on the physical activity outcomes beyond those achieved through self-monitoring . Physical activity can be promoted among at-risk groups in a brief , inexpensive manner in primary care . Exercise prescription and culturally relevant enhancement strategies may optimize physical activity outcomes for elder American Indians Background Limited research has examined the association between physical activity , health-related fitness , and disease outcomes in breast cancer survivors . Here , we present the rationale and design of the Alberta Moving Beyond Breast Cancer ( AMBER ) Study , a prospect i ve cohort study design ed specifically to examine the role of physical activity and health-related fitness in breast cancer survivorship from the time of diagnosis and for the balance of life . The AMBER Study will examine the role of physical activity and health-related fitness in facilitating treatment completion , alleviating treatment side effects , hastening recovery after treatments , improving long term quality of life , and reducing the risks of disease recurrence , other chronic diseases , and premature death . Methods / Design The AMBER Study will enroll 1500 newly diagnosed , incident , stage I-IIIc breast cancer survivors in Alberta , Canada over a 5 year period . Assessment s will be made at baseline ( within 90 days of surgery ) , 1 year , and 3 years consisting of objective and self-reported measurements of physical activity , health-related fitness , blood collection , lymphedema , patient-reported outcomes , and determinants of physical activity . A final assessment at 5 years will measure patient-reported data only . The cohort members will be followed for an additional 5 years for disease outcomes . Discussion The AMBER cohort will answer key questions related to physical activity and health-related fitness in breast cancer survivors including : ( 1 ) the independent and interactive associations of physical activity and health-related fitness with disease outcomes ( e.g. , recurrence , breast cancer-specific mortality , overall survival ) , treatment completion rates , symptoms and side effects ( e.g. , pain , lymphedema , fatigue , neuropathy ) , quality of life , and psychosocial functioning ( e.g. , anxiety , depression , self-esteem , happiness ) , ( 2 ) the determinants of physical activity and health-related fitness including demographic , medical , social cognitive , and environmental variables , ( 3 ) the mediators of any observed associations between physical activity , health-related fitness , and health outcomes including biological , functional , and psychosocial , and ( 4 ) the moderators of any observed associations including demographic , medical , and biological/disease factors . Taken together , these data will provide a comprehensive inquiry into the outcomes , determinants , mechanisms , and moderators of physical activity and health-related fitness in breast cancer survivors Purpose . Determine the proportion of adults aware of Canada 's Physical Activity Guide to Healthy Active Living ( Guide ) and its specific recommendations ( objective 1 ) ; whether key demographic factors ( objective 2a ) and physical activity behavior ( objective 2b ) are associated with awareness and specific familiarity with the Guide ; and if changes in awareness and specific recommendations with the Guide occurred over a 1-year period ( objective 3a and 3b ) . Design . R and om selection with computer-assisted telephone interviewing . Setting . Edmonton , Alberta , Canada . Subjects . A total of 2803 adults 18 years or older completed interviews from 4831 telephone contacts ( response rate , 58.0 % ) , and after 1 year , 1423 individuals ( 55 % ) completed interviews . Measures . Demographic , physical activity , Guide awareness . Analysis . Chi-square , analysis of variance . Results . At baseline , 27.3 % were aware of the Guide , and 15.6 % were familiar with the Guide 's specific recommendations . Younger individuals ( p = .01 ) , women ( p < .001 ) , and those with a higher education ( p < .001 ) were more likely to be generally aware of the Guide , and women were also more specifically aware ( p = .01 ) . Physical activity levels were positively associated with the general ( p < .001 ) and specific ( p < .001 ) awareness of the Guide . Changes in general familiarity and specific recommendations over 1 year were observed . Conclusions . The majority of those surveyed were not familiar with the Guide . Men , individuals with a lower education , and older individuals may need to be specifically targeted . ( Am J Health Promot 2011;25[5]:294 - 297 . AIM This paper reports a study evaluating the relationship between social and community level supports and  physical activity and dietary behaviours  among a low-income Latino population with multiple chronic conditions . BACKGROUND With consistently lower physical activity than whites and documented nutritional deficiencies , Latinos in the United States of America represent a disproportionate share of the population with chronic illness . This pattern of health disparities is seen across countries , where there is a struggle to raise the health status of low-income , immigrant and aboriginal communities . Social-ecological theories of health behaviour stress the importance of considering social and community support for health behaviour , and represent a useful framework for considering ways to improve physical activity and nutrition for immigrant and aboriginal groups . METHOD We report here on data from a baseline assessment of 200 patients from a health clinic in the United States of America serving a low-income , primarily Latino population . Participants were enrolled in Re sources for Health , a r and omized controlled trial to promote multi-level support for chronic illness self-management . Measures included  self-reported physical activity , dietary behaviour and multi-level support for chronic illness management  as well as demographic data . Baseline data reported on here were collected between February 2002 and September 2003 . FINDINGS Use of multi-level supports ( e.g. family , individual and healthcare provider ) was statistically significantly associated with meeting physical activity guidelines and better dietary behaviours . Being female and having multiple chronic conditions were also associated with better dietary behaviour . These variables explained 20 % of the variance in dietary behaviour . CONCLUSION Results support a social-ecological approach for promoting healthy behaviour in this low-income , primarily Latino sample with multiple chronic conditions . Addressing multiple levels of support for healthy behaviour is important in interventions to improve physical activity and diet , and nurses may be particularly well placed to address such issues for low-income , aboriginal and immigrant patients with chronic conditions BACKGROUND About two-thirds of Canadians are physically inactive . As a risk factor for several chronic diseases , physical inactivity can potentially be a substantial public health burden . We estimated the direct health care costs attributable to  physical inactivity  in Canada , the number of lives lost prematurely each year that are attributable to a sedentary lifestyle and the effect that a reduction of 10 % in inactivity levels ( a Canadian objective for 2003 ) could have on reducing direct health care costs . METHODS We calculated summary relative risk ( RR ) estimates from prospect i ve longitudinal studies of the effects of physical inactivity on coronary artery disease , stroke , colon cancer , breast cancer , type 2 diabetes mellitus and osteoporosis . We then computed the population -attributable fraction ( PAF ) for each illness from the summary RR and the prevalence of physical inactivity ( i.e. , 62 % ) and applied the PAF to the total direct health care expenditures for 1999 and to the number of deaths in 1995 associated with each disease to determine the health care costs and lives lost prematurely that were directly attributable to physical inactivity . RESULTS About $ 2.1 billion , or 2.5 % of the total direct health care costs in Canada , were attributable to physical inactivity in 1999 . A sensitivity analysis ( simultaneously varying each of the health care costs and PAF by + /- 20 % ) indicated that the costs could be as low as $ 1.4 billion and as high as $ 3.1 billion . About 21,000 lives were lost prematurely in 1995 because of inactivity . A 10 % reduction in the prevalence of physical inactivity has the potential to reduce direct health care expenditures by $ 150 million a year . INTERPRETATION Physical inactivity represents an important public health burden in Canada . Even modest reductions in inactivity levels could result in substantial cost savings Background Aboriginal and Torres Strait Isl and er people have higher rates of chronic disease and a lower life expectancy than non-Indigenous Australians . In non-urban areas these health disparities are even larger . The aim of this qualitative study was to explore perceived barriers and enablers to attending an eight-week physical activity program in a rural and regional setting which aim ed to improve health outcomes , but had a low attendance rate . Methods Thirty-four Indigenous Australians participated in the intervention from the rural ( n = 12 ) and the regional ( n = 22 ) community .  Qualitative semi-structured individual interviews were conducted at the follow-up health assessment s with 12 participants . A thematic network analysis was undertaken to examine the barriers and enablers to participation in the program . Results Overall , there were positive attitudes to , and high levels of motivation towards , the physical activity program . Enablers to participation were the inclusion of family members , no financial cost and a good relationship with the principal investigator , which was strengthened by the community-based participatory approach to the program design . Barriers to program attendance were mostly beyond the control of the individuals , such as ‘ sorry business ’ , needing to travel away from the community and lack of community infrastructure . Conclusions More consideration is needed prior to implementation of programs to underst and how community-specific barriers and enablers will affect attendance to the program . Trial registration ACTRN12616000497404 . Registered 18 April 2016 Background The purpose was to conduct systematic review s of the relationship between physical activity of healthy community-dwelling older ( > 65 years ) adults and outcomes of  functional limitations , disability , or loss of independence .  Methods Prospect i ve cohort studies with an outcome related to functional independence or to cognitive function  were search ed , as well as exercise training interventions that reported a functional outcome . Electronic data base search strategies were used to identify citations which were screened ( title and abstract ) for inclusion . Included articles were review ed to complete st and ardized data extraction tables , and assess study quality . An established system of assessing the level and grade of evidence for recommendations was employed . Results Sixty-six studies met inclusion criteria for the relationship between physical activity and functional independence , and 34 were included with a cognitive function outcome . Greater physical activity of an aerobic nature ( categorized by a variety of methods ) was associated with higher functional status ( expressed by a host of outcome measures ) in older age . For functional independence , moderate ( and high ) levels of physical activity appeared effective in conferring a reduced risk ( odds ratio ~0.5 ) of functional limitations or disability . Limitation in higher level performance outcomes was reduced ( odds ratio ~0.5 ) with vigorous ( or high ) activity with an apparent dose-response of moderate through to high activity . Exercise training interventions ( including aerobic and resistance ) of older adults showed improvement in physiological and functional measures , and suggestion of longer-term reduction in incidence of mobility disability . A relatively high level of physical activity was related to better cognitive function and reduced risk of developing dementia ; however , there were mixed results of the effects of exercise interventions on cognitive function indices . Conclusions There is a consistency of findings across studies and a range of outcome measures related to functional independence ; regular aerobic activity and short-term exercise programmes confer a reduced risk of functional limitations and disability in older age . Although a precise characterization of a minimal or effective physical activity dose to maintain functional independence is difficult , it appears moderate to higher levels of activity are effective and there may be a threshold of at least moderate activity for significant outcomes Context Obesity is a major public health problem in North America , particularly in Aboriginal people . Objective To determine if a household-based lifestyle intervention is effective at reducing energy intake and increasing physical activity among Aboriginal families after 6 months . Design , Participants , and InterventionR and omized , open trial of 57 Aboriginal households recruited between May 2004 and April 2005 from the Six Nations Reserve in Ohsweken , Canada . Aboriginal Health Counsellors made regular home visits to assist families in setting dietary and physical activity goals . Additional interventions included provision of filtered water , a physical activity program for children , and educational events about healthy lifestyles . Results 57 households involving 174 individuals were r and omized to intervention or usual care . Intervention households decreased consumption of fats , oils and sweets compared to usual care households ( -4.9 servings per day vs. -3 servings/day , p=0.006 ) , and this was associated with a reduction in trans fatty acids ( -0.2 vs. + 0.6 grams/day , p=0.02 ) . Water consumption increased ( + 0.3 vs. -0.1 servings/day , p<0.04 ) and soda pop consumption decreased ( -0.3 vs. -0.1 servings/day , p=0.02 ) in intervention households compared to usual care . A trend toward increased knowledge about healthy dietary practice s in children , increased leisure-time activity and decreased sedentary behaviours was observed , although these differences were not statistically significant . Conclusion A household-based intervention is associated with some positive changes in dietary practice s and activity patterns . A larger and longer-term intervention which addresses both individual change and structural barriers in the community is needed . Résumé Context eL’obésité est un problème de santé publique majeur en Amérique du Nord , particulièrement chez les Autochtones . ObjectifDéterminer si une intervention de modification du mode de vie centrée sur les ménages parvient à réduire l’apport énergétique et à accroître l’activité physique dans des familles autochtones au bout de six mois . Méthode , participants et interventionEssai ouvert aléatoire auprès de 57 ménages autochtones recrutés entre mai 2004 et avril 2005 dans la réserve des Six-Nations à Ohsweken ( Ontario ) , au Canada . Des conseillers en santé autochtone ont fait des visites à domicile périodiques pour aider les familles à se fixer des objectifs de saine alimentation et d’activité physique . D’autres mesures ont aussi été instaurées : on a fourni de l’eau filtrée aux ménages , offert un programme d’activité physique aux enfants et organisé des activités de sensibilisation aux modes de vie sains . RésultatsLes 57 ménages ( 174 personnes ) ont été répartis aléatoirement en deux groupes , l’un recevant les mesures d’intervention et l’autre , les soins habituels . Les ménages recevant les mesures d’intervention ont diminué leur consommation de matières grasses , d’huile et de sucreries par rapport aux ménages recevant les soins habituels ( -4,9 portions/jour contre -3 portions/jour , p=0,006 ) , et cette diminution était associée à une baisse de la consommation d’acides gras trans ( -0,2 contre + 0,6 g/jour , p=0,02 ) . Par ailleurs , leur consommation d’eau a augmenté ( + 0,3 contre -0,1 portion/jour , p<0,04 ) , et leur consommation de boissons gazeuses a diminué ( -0,3 contre -0,1 portion/jour , p=0,02 ) . Nous avons aussi observé une amélioration des connaissances des enfants sur la saine alimentation , une augmentation de l’activité pendant les temps libres et une diminution des comportements sédentaires , mais ces changements n’étaient pas significatifs . Conclusion Une intervention centrée sur les ménages est associée à certains changements positifs dans l’alimentation et l’activité physique . Il faudrait élargir et prolonger l’initiative , en tenant compte à la fois des changements individuels et des obstacles structurels dans la communauté Background Despite the health risks , physical inactivity is common . Identifying the correlates of physical activity to inform the design of interventions to reduce the disease burden associated with physical inactivity is a public health imperative . Rural adults have a unique set of characteristics influencing their activity behaviour , and are typically understudied , especially in Engl and . The aim of this study was to identify the personal , social , and environmental correlates of physical activity in adults living in rural villages . Methods The study used baseline data from 2415 adults ( response rate : 37.7 % ) participating in the first time period of a stepped-wedge cluster r and omised trial , conducted in 128 rural villages from south-west Engl and . Data collected included demographic characteristics , social factors , perception of the local environment , village level factors ( percentage male , mean age , population density , Index of Multiple Deprivation , and sport market segmentation ) , and physical activity behaviour . R and om effects ( “ multilevel ” ) logistic regression models were fitted to the binary outcome whether individuals met physical activity guidelines , and r and om effects linear regression models were fitted to the continuous outcome MET-minutes per week leisure time physical activity , using the personal , social , environmental , and village-level factors as predictors . Results The following factors both increased the odds of meeting the recommended activity guidelines and were associated with more leisure-time physical activity : being male ( p = 0.002 ) , in good health ( p < 0.001 ) , greater commitment to being more active ( p = 0.002 ) , favourable activity social norms ( p = 0.004 ) , greater physical activity habit ( p < 0.001 ) , and recent use of recreational facilities ( p = 0.01 ) . In addition , there was evidence ( p < 0.05 ) that younger age , lower body mass index , having a physical occupation , dog ownership , inconvenience of public transport , and using recreational facilities outside the local village were associated with greater reported leisure-time physical activity . None of the village-level factors were associated with physical activity . Conclusions This study adds to the current literature on the correlates of physical activity behaviour by focusing on a population exposed to unique environmental conditions . It highlights potentially important correlates of physical activity that could be the focus of interventions targeting rural population s , and demonstrates the need to examine rural adults separately from their urban counterparts Regular physical activity is associated with a reduced risk of all-cause mortality , and mortality due to cardiovascular disease and cancer . Among adolescents , physical activity is associated with benefits in the prevention and control of emotional distress , and improvement of self-esteem . Countries in transitional epidemiological scenarios , such as Chile , need to develop effective strategies to improve physical activity as a way to face the epidemic of chronic diseases . The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a school-based physical activity program on physical fitness and mental health status of adolescents living in a low socioeconomic status area in Santiago , Chile . A quasi-experimental design was used to evaluate the effects of the program over one academic year . The study included 198 students aged 15 years old . Two ninth grade classes were r and omly selected as the  intervention group , with two classes of the same grade as controls . A social planning approach was used to develop the intervention . The program was design ed and implemented based on student preferences , teachers ' expertise and local re sources . Changes in physiological and mental health status were assessed . After the intervention , maximum oxygen capacity achieved a significant increase of 8.5 % in the intervention versus 1.8 % in the control group ( p < 0.0001 ) . Speed and jump performance scores improved significantly more in the intervention versus the control group ( p > 0.01 ) . Anxiety score decreased 13.7 % in the intervention group versus 2.8 % in the control group ( p < 0.01 ) , and self-esteem score increased 2.3 % in the intervention group and decreased 0.1 % in the control group after the end of the program ( p < 0.0001 ) . No significant change was observed in the depressive score . Student participation and compliance with the program was > 80 % . To conclude , a school-based program to improve physical activity in adolescents of low socioeconomic status , obtained a high level of participation and achieved significant benefits in terms of physical fitness and mental health status BACKGROUND Physical activity has a protective effect against  cardiovascular disease ( CVD )  in high-income countries , where physical activity is mainly recreational , but it is not known if this is also observed in lower-income countries , where physical activity is mainly non-recreational . We examined whether different amounts and types of physical activity are associated with lower mortality and CVD  in countries at different economic levels . METHODS In this prospect i ve cohort study , we recruited participants from 17 countries ( Canada , Sweden , United Arab Emirates , Argentina , Brazil , Chile , Pol and , Turkey , Malaysia , South Africa , China , Colombia , Iran , Bangladesh , India , Pakistan , and Zimbabwe ) . Within each country , urban and rural areas in and around selected cities and towns were identified to reflect the geographical diversity . Within these communities , we invited individuals aged between 35 and 70 years who intended to live at their current address for at least another 4 years .  Total physical activity  was assessed using the  International Physical Activity Question naire ( IPQA ) . Participants with pre-existing CVD were excluded from the analyses . Mortality and CVD were recorded during a mean of 6·9 years of follow-up . Primary clinical outcomes during follow-up were mortality plus major CVD ( CVD mortality , incident myocardial infa rct ion , stroke , or heart failure ) , either as a composite or separately . The effects of physical activity on mortality and CVD were adjusted for sociodemographic factors and other risk factors taking into account household , community , and country clustering . FINDINGS Between Jan 1 , 2003 , and Dec 31 , 2010 , 168 916 participants were enrolled , of whom 141 945 completed the IPAQ . Analyses were limited to the 130 843 participants without pre-existing CVD . Compared with low physical activity ( < 600 metabolic equivalents [ MET ] × minutes per week or < 150 minutes per week of moderate intensity physical activity ) , moderate ( 600 - 3000 MET × minutes or 150 - 750 minutes per week ) and high physical activity ( > 3000 MET × minutes or > 750 minutes per week ) were associated with grade d reduction in mortality ( hazard ratio 0·80 , 95 % CI 0·74 - 0·87 and 0·65 , 0·60 - 0·71 ; p<0·0001 for trend ) , and major CVD ( 0·86 , 0·78 - 0·93 ; p<0·001 for trend  ) . Higher physical activity was associated with lower risk of CVD and mortality  in high-income , middle-income , and low-income countries . The adjusted population attributable fraction for not meeting the physical activity guidelines was 8·0 % for mortality and 4·6 % for major CVD , and for not meeting high physical activity was 13·0 % for mortality and 9·5 % for major CVD . Both recreational and non-recreational physical activity were associated with benefits . INTERPRETATION Higher recreational and non-recreational physical activity was associated with a lower risk of mortality and CVD events in individuals from low-income , middle-income , and high-income countries . Increasing physical activity is a simple , widely applicable , low cost global strategy that could reduce deaths and CVD in middle age . FUNDING Population Health Research Institute , the Canadian Institutes of Health Research , Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario , Ontario SPOR Support Unit , Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care , AstraZeneca , Sanofi-Aventis , Boehringer Ingelheim , Servier , GSK , Novartis , King Pharma , and national and local organisations in participating countries that are listed at the end of the Article BACKGROUND In the U.S. , Latinos report particularly high levels of inactivity and related chronic illnesses and are in need of intervention . Thus , the purpose of the current study was to culturally and linguistically adapt an empirically supported , individually tailored physical activity print intervention for Latinos and then conduct an RCT of the modified program . DESIGN An RCT was conducted . SETTING / PARTICIPANTS The sample included 93 overweight/obese ( 80 % ) Latinas with low income and acculturation . INTERVENTION Data were collected in 2007 - 2008 and analyzed by intent-to-treat in 2009 . Participants were r and omly assigned to either ( 1 ) a culturally and linguistically adapted physical activity intervention ( Seamos Activas ) or ( 2 ) a wellness contact control condition . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Self-report physical activity , as measured pre- and post-intervention ( 6 months , 87 % retention ) by the 7-Day Physical Activity Recall . RESULTS Moderate-intensity ( or greater ) physical activity increased from an average of 16.56 minutes/week ( SD=25.76 ) at baseline to 147.27 ( SD=241.55 ) at 6 months in the intervention arm ( n=45 ) , and from 11.88 minutes/week ( SD=21.99 ) to 96.79 ( SD=118.49 ) in the wellness contact control arm ( n=48 ) . No between-group differences were seen in overall physical activity . Intervention participants reported significantly greater increases in cognitive ( F[1 , 91]=9.53 , p=0.003 ) and behavioral processes of change ( F[1 , 91]=8.37 , p=0.005 ) and available physical activity supplies and equipment at home ( F[1 , 91]=4.17 , p=0.04 ) than control participants . CONCLUSIONS Results supported the hypothesized feasibility , acceptability , and preliminary efficacy of individually tailored physical activity print interventions  among Latinas . Although more research is needed to corroborate these findings , such high-reach , low-cost approaches have great potential to positively affect public health . TRIAL REGISTRATION NCT00724165 OBJECTIVE Interventions for disease prevention should also be evaluated for quality of life ( QoL ) effects . Few exercise trials have examined QoL in the context of primary disease prevention . Here , we report the QoL outcomes from the Alberta Physical Activity and Breast Cancer Prevention ( ALPHA ) Trial . METHODS The ALPHA trial was a r and omized controlled trial in Calgary and Edmonton , Canada between May 2003 and July 2007 that compared an exercise intervention to a sedentary lifestyle among 320 sedentary , postmenopausal women . The exercise group was asked to perform moderate-to-vigorous intensity aerobic exercise 45 min/day , 5 days/week for 1 year . QoL was assessed by the short form-36 health survey . RESULTS Compared to the control group , the exercise group maintained significantly better physical functioning ( p<0.001 ) , general health ( p<0.001 ) , vitality ( p=0.002 ) , and bodily pain ( p=0.020 ) by 4 - 5 points which exceeds the 3.0 minimally important difference for these scales . Changes in body composition partially mediated the intervention effects . Antidepressant use and the presence of comorbidities moderated some intervention effects . CONCLUSIONS A 1-year moderate-to-vigorous aerobic exercise program prevents declines in the physical aspects of QoL in postmenopausal women .  Exercise may have a potentially important advantage for breast cancer prevention compared to other lifestyle or biomedical interventions Background Physical inactivity is an independent risk factor for diabetes and heart disease . There is evidence that increasing physical activity can reduce the risk of developing these chronic diseases , but less evidence about effective ways to increase adherence to physical activity . Interventions are therefore needed that produce sustained increases in adherence to physical activity , are cost-effective and improve clinical endpoints . Methods The Women 's Lifestyle Study is a two year r and omized controlled trial involving a nurse-led intervention to increase physical activity in 40–74 year old physically inactive women recruited from primary care . Baseline measures were assessed in a face-to-face interview with a primary care nurse . The intervention involved delivery of a ' Lifestyle script ' by a primary care nurse followed by telephone counselling for nine months and a face-to-face nurse visit at six months . Outcome measurements are assessed at 12 and 24 months . The primary outcome is physical activity measured using a vali date d physical activity question naire . Secondary outcomes include blood pressure , weight , waist circumference , physical fitness ( step test ) , serum HbA1c , fasting glucose , lipids , insulin , and quality of life ( SF36 ) . Costs were measured prospect ively to allow a subsequent cost-effectiveness evaluation if the trial is positive . Discussion Due to report in 2008 , the Women 's Lifestyle Study tests the effectiveness of an enhanced low-cost , evidence -based intervention in increasing physical activity , and improving cardiovascular and diabetes risk indicators over two years . If successful in demonstrating improvements in health outcomes , this r and omized controlled trial will be the first to demonstrate long-term cardiovascular and diabetes risk health benefit , in addition to improvements in physical activity , from a sustainable physical activity intervention based in primary care . Trial Registration Australian Clinical Trials Registry ( ACTR ) , ACTRN012605000490673 The promotion of regular physical activity for people with type 2 diabetes poses a challenge for public health authorities . The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of a  computer-tailoring print-based intervention to promote the adoption of regular physical activity among people with type 2 diabetes . An experimental design was used ; 325 participants between the age of 35 and 55 years old were r and omized in one of two experimental conditions : the computer-tailoring intervention and the generic intervention . The two dependant variables were the frequency of participation and the intention to participate in leisure-time physical activities . Among the research hypotheses , only one was confirmed : the first computer-tailoring print on the practice of physical activity  was more efficient than the first generic intervention at 1-month follow-up . Other similar studies will be necessary to determine the real potential of this type of approach for people with type 2 diabetes in a real-life setting Purpose The purpose of this study was to develop a lifestyle change program for Native American youth by modifying the Diabetes Prevention Program ( DPP ) and assess implementation indicators and short term behavioral and physiological outcomes of the intervention among a small pilot sample . Methods Community members and project staff modified the original DPP to be developmentally and culturally appropriate for youth targeting healthy weight maintenance , lowering fat intake , and increasing physical activity . Modifications included incorporating cultural aspects and delivering the program in small groups led by community members . Sixty-four Native American youth , aged 10 - 14 years old were recruited from 2 Montana Indian reservations to participate in the project , titled “ Journey to Native Youth Health . ” Participants were r and omized to the Journey DPP or a health-oriented comparison condition . Pretest and posttest measures included body mass index ( BMI ) , dietary intake , physical activity ( PA ) , and nutrition knowledge , attitudes and beliefs ( KAB ) . Results The target number of participants was recruited and 84 % completed the program and final measures . Changes favoring the Journey DPP group were observed on measures of PA , KAB , and kilocalories from fat consumed . As expected given the short ( 3-month ) duration of treatment , there was no overall effect on BMI at end of treatment . Among youth who were overweight or obese at baseline , however , the Journey DPP had lower BMI growth . Conclusions Results suggest the Journey DPP is feasible to implement and has the potential to impact behaviors and weight gain associated with risk for type-2 diabetes in Native American youth Mexican Americans along the US-Mexico border have been found to be disproportionately affected by chronic diseases particularly related to lack of physical activity and healthful food choices . A community-wide campaign ( CWC ) is an evidence -based strategy to address these behaviors but with few examples of implementation in Mexican descent population s facing profound health disparities . We examined exposure to a CWC , titled Tu Salud ¡ Sí Cuenta ! , and its association with meeting the recommended minutes of moderate and vigorous physical activity weekly and consuming more portions of fruits and vegetables daily . A cross-sectional sample of 1438 Mexican descent participants was drawn from a city-wide , r and omly-selected cohort interviewed between the years 2008 and 2012 . Multivariable comparisons of participants exposed and not exposed to the CWC and meeting physical activity guidelines or their fruit and vegetable consumptions using mixed effects models were conducted . The community-wide campaign components included different forms of mass media and individually-focused components such as community health worker ( CHW ) home visits . After adjusting for gender , age , marital status , educational attainment , language preference , health insurance , and diabetes diagnosis , the strongest association was found between meeting physical activity guidelines and exposure to both CHW discussion s and radio messages ( adjusted OR = 3.83 ; 95 % CI = [ 1.28 , 6.21 ] ; p = 0.0099 ) . Participants who reported exposure to both radio and TV messages consumed more portions of fruits and vegetables than those who reported no exposure ( adjusted RR = 1.30 ; 95 % CI = [ 1.02 , 1.66 ] ; p = 0.0338 ) . This study provides insights into the implementation and behavioral outcomes associated with exposure to a community-wide campaign , a potential model for addressing lifestyle modifications in population s affected by health disparities
There is limited evidence and a lack of robust interventions that examine the impacts of  physical activity on health and fitness status in the Canadian Indigenous population .
Vali date d , culturally relevant tools for measuring physical activity may aid in program evaluation and focused educational material s could better support population health initiatives .
The Indigenous population of Canada faces an increased burden of chronic disease , leading to decreased life expectancy .
Physical activity is an important health behaviour that improves chronic disease risk factors and physical fitness .
The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate physical activity interventions in the Indigenous population in Canada to determine effects on physical activity rates , physical fitness , and health outcomes .