Abstract
Despite well-known benefits of physical activity, in Ireland only 38 % of older adults are sufficiently active. Behavioural interventions are rarely developed systematically and, when reported, inadequate description often becomes a barrier for subsequent replication and scalability. In this article, we describe the development and characteristics of Move for Life, an intervention to reach and help inactive adults aged 50 years and older increase their physical activity. It was designed to fit within existing group-based structured physical activity programmes run by Local Sports Partnerships, thus maximising the likelihood of translation into policy and practice. Constructs from social cognitive theory, self-determination theory, and the conceptual model of group cohesion in exercise informed the conceptual model and the development of behavioural skills, social support, and group cohesion intervention strategies. Physical activity instructors supported by peer mentors, who also contributed to sustaining the intervention, implemented these strategies. Moving away from accounts of intervention development as a relatively simple linear process, we illustrate the complex interplay of theory, evidence, practice, and real-world contextual circumstances that shaped the development of Move for Life. Against this backdrop, we discuss issues relevant to the planning and reporting of behavioural and physical activity interventions in public health.
Highlights
The World Health Organization (WHO) physical activity guidelines (PAGL)1 describe appropriate levels of physical activity (PA) necessary to enhance health (WHO, 2020)
To maximise potential for adoption, implementation and sustainability of Move for Life (MFL), we took advantage of an existing network of publicly funded Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs) across Ireland tasked with the creation and implementation of plans for long-term sustainable local sport development and delivery of programmes for all
We formed a partnership with Limerick and Clare LSPs, where Community Sport and PA Hubs with a remit to increase engagement in PA amongst disadvantaged, marginalised and hard to reach groups already existed and had an established record of recruiting inactive individuals and engaging them in PA programmes
Summary
The World Health Organization (WHO) physical activity guidelines (PAGL) describe appropriate levels of physical activity (PA) necessary to enhance health (WHO, 2020). Significant evidence shows that meeting PAGL is important for disease prevention and promoting well being, physical and mental health, and quality of life, as well as contributing to economic, social and cultural benefits (WHO, 2018). In Ireland, only 38 % of older adults are suf ficiently active to meet the PAGLs (Murtagh et al, 2015). The rate of long-term illness increases with age, with 61 % of adults in Ireland aged 50+ having a chronic condition such as arthritis, oste oporosis, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory conditions and diabetes (Department of Health, 2016b). Tackling obesity and weight gain pre sents a major national issue as rates of obesity have doubled in recent years (Department of Health, 2016c). Recent research with Irish older adults identified that 43 % of those aged 50+ were overweight and 36 % were obese (Leahy, Nolan, O’Connell, & Kenny, 2014)
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