This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Baranowski, T. Articles by Palmer, J. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Baranowski, T. Articles by Palmer, J. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

A Center-Based Program for Exercise Change among Black-American Families

Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, J25, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston

Bruce Simons-Morton, EdD, MPH

Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, J25, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston

Paul Hooks, PhD

Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, J25, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston

Janice Henske, MPH, RD, LD

Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, J25, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston

Kathy Tiernan, MS

Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, J25, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston

J. Kay Dunn, PhD

Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, J25, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston

Harold Burkhalter, MA

Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, J25, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston

John Harper, PhD

Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, J25, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston

Judy Palmer, PhD

Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, J25, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston

A center-based program was designed and implemented to promote aerobic physical activity among healthy Black-American families with children in the fifth through seventh grades. Ninety-four Black-American families were actively recruited and randomly as signed to an experimental or control group. Families in the experimental group were encouraged to participate in a program with the following features: one education and two fitness sessions per week for 14 weeks; educational sessions that included individual counseling, small group education, aerobic activity, and snack components; located in a convenient building cherished by the community; aerobic activity sessions in a fitness center outfitted and staffed according to modern characteristics; a variety of incentives including free transportation and babysitting and reminders to promote attendance. Per cent participation was low, with about 20% participating in the desired fitness center sessions by the end of the program. As a result of low participation, no differences were detected beween experimental and control groups on indicators of cardiovascular fitness. In postprogram interviews, conflicts with work and school events were the most commonly reported reasons for nonattendance. We concluded that because of difficulties in at tendance, center-based programs appear to have limited value as the sole modality for intervention in public health programs for promoting physical activity among healthy,

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?