Does a six-month pedometer intervention improve physical activity and health among vulnerable African Americans? A feasibility study

• Published in: Journal of physical activity & health Vol. 7; no. 2; p. 224
• Main Authors: Zoellner, Jamie, Connell, Carol, Powers, Alicia, Avis-Williams, Amanda, Yadrick, Kathy, Bogle, Margaret L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.03.2010
• Subjects: Adult; African Americans - statistics & numerical data; Analysis of Variance; Community-Based Participatory Research; Exercise Test - instrumentation; Feasibility Studies; Female; Health Behavior; Health Promotion; Health Status; Humans; Male; Motor Activity; Statistics as Topic; Time Factors; United States; United States
• ISSN: 1543-3080
• DOI: 10.1123/jpah.7.2.224

Race/ethnic-specific physical activity patterns and biological responses to physical activity is one of the most understudied, yet critical aspects related to the development and adoption of physical activity recommendations. In this 6-month community walking intervention targeting African Americans, participants wore a pedometer and maintained a pedometer diary for the study duration. Outcome measures included height, weight, percent body fat, waist circumference, blood pressure, lipids and glucose. ANOVA, Pearson Correlations, and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to examine changes in steps/day over each month of the intervention and explore associations among pedometer-determined physical activity and anthropometric/biological change scores from month 1 to 6. The 83 participants were primarily African American (98%) women (94%). There was a significant increase in the average step/day beginning with 6665 (SD = 3396) during month 1 and increasing to 9232 (SD = 3670) steps/day during month 6 (F = 4.5, P < .0001). Associations among step counts and anthropometric/biological change scores were not significant. While this intervention resulted in significant increases in steps/day; it exemplifies that physical activity standards may be unachievable for some vulnerable, minority communities. Methodological considerations for exploring associations between changes in pedometer-determined step counts and anthropometric/biological outcomes are emphasized through this study.