Abstract P397: Hispanic Ethnicity as a Moderator of Exercise Behavior in a Mobile Health Exercise Intervention for Sedentary Adults

Abstract

Introduction: Mobile health (mHealth) lifestyle interventions can help mitigate cardiometabolic disease. However, Hispanic adults are underrepresented in these interventions, report lower physical activity (PA) levels and are disproportionately affected by cardiometabolic disease compared to non-Hispanic White (NHW) adults. We conducted a secondary analysis of the effects of an 8-week mHealth exercise intervention on exercise behavior in Hispanic and NHW adults. Hypothesis: A remotely delivered mHealth exercise program involving a wearable sensor, mobile application and wellness education would promote similar exercise behavior in both Hispanic and NHW adults. Methods: Thirty-eight Hispanic and 21 NHW sedentary (< 60 min/week of exercise) adults were randomized (1:1:1) to 8 weeks of increasing behavioral resources: Level 1 (wellness education, n=16), Level 2 (wellness education + pre-recorded exercise videos, n=24), or Level 3 (wellness education + livestream group exercise, n=19). Participants were given a chest strap sensor (Myzone MZ-3) to use during exercise and a mobile app to interact with other participants. A weekly email delivered wellness education, feedback and PA encouragement. Level 2 (videos) and Level 3 (classes) performed 35-min 3x/wk of instructor-led, high-intensity functional training designed to improve cardiometabolic risk factors. Sensor use (3x/wk encouraged) and time spent in moderate-to-vigorous exercise effort (MVET) were captured by the MZ-3. MVET was calculated as the time spent in effort >64% maximum heart rate. Baseline and post-intervention PA were captured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Differences between groups were tested using univariate ANOVA with Bonferroni-adjusted t tests in post hoc analyses. Results: Hispanic participants were younger (30.6 ± 10.1 yr, mean ± SD) and performed less PA (22.6 ± 70.2 min/wk) at baseline compared to NHW (39.7 ± 16.8 yr, 90.1± 90.2 min/wk; p<0.05). No differences in body mass index or gender were observed between groups at baseline (p>0.05), or in weekly sensor use during the intervention (Hispanic 1.7 ± 1.8 sessions/wk, NHW 2.4 ± 1.6 sessions/wk, p>0.05). Self-reported PA increased from baseline to post-intervention in both groups (p<0.01), but no differences between groups were observed. However, NHW had greater moderate-to-vigorous exercise effort (86.3 ± 67.7 weekly MVET) compared to Hispanic participants (55.9 ± 66.2 weekly MVET, p<0.05) throughout the intervention. Conclusion: An 8-week mHealth lifestyle program increased PA behavior in sedentary participants. However, Hispanic participants exercised at lower intensities than non-Hispanic White participants. Future work is needed to identify barriers in meeting MVPA recommendations in minority populations so that culturally tailored interventions can be developed.