Effects of a Group-based Behavioral Physical Activity Intervention in Older Adults

Abstract

Chronic diseases are highly prevalent among older adults. Despite the known benefits of regular physical activity (PA), particularly for disease prevention and management, a majority of older adults do not meet PA guidelines. There is a need for evidence-based programs that can successfully initiate and maintain PA behaviors. PURPOSE: To examine the effects of a 12-week, group-based, behavioral PA intervention on PA behaviors and weight-loss in older adults. METHODS: Inactive older adults (>50 years) were randomized to a 12-week, group-based, behavioral PA intervention, or to an attention control nutrition intervention. Demographic variables were collected via a survey; objectively measured height and weight were obtained. Participants wore an accelerometer during all waking hours for 7 days on the right hip. Percent of day spent in sedentary, light, and moderate to vigorous PA was calculated. All measures were obtained at baseline and 12-weeks (post intervention). Repeated measures ANOVAs examined changes in weight and PA behaviors over time between groups, controlling for age, gender, and education. RESULTS: Participants (n=50) averaged 64.1+8.4 years of age and had a BMI of 33.3+7.5 kg/m2. A majority were women (72%), married (62%), white (86%), and had at least some college education (86%). Participants spent 62% of the day sedentary, 37% in light PA, and 1% in moderate to vigorous PA. Participants in the PA group had significantly greater increases in moderate to vigorous PA than those in the nutrition group (p=.04). Participants in the nutrition group had significantly greater decreases in time spent sedentary than those in the PA group (p=.03). There was no significant change over time in light PA (p=.29). There was a significant decrease in weight over time among participants from both groups (p=.001). CONCLUSIONS: Findings from our study suggest that group-based behavioral PA interventions may be an effective way to increase moderate to vigorous PA among older adults. Behavioral PA and dietary interventions may also result in weight loss. Given the expected growth in the number of adults 65+ in the U.S., there is a need for interventions that can successfully increase PA and be disseminated widely. Such interventions have the potential to increase independence and longevity across the population.