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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

James Rimmer, PhD, Valerie Lawson, MS, and Edward Wang, PhD. Disability and Human Development, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1640 West Roosevelt Rd., Chicago, IL 60608-6904, 312/413-9651, vlawson@uic.edu

Participation in health promoting behaviors (i.e., physical activity, nutrition) is far more likely when the program is tailored to the unique needs of the user. We developed a personalized exercise and nutrition program (PEP) for an underserved population of predominantly African American adults with severe mobility limitations and extreme obesity. 91 subjects were randomized to one of the three groups (awareness, low, and high support) to determine the efficacy of a tailored support system on key health outcomes. The initial phase (first 6 months) consisted of a staging period which included subject recruitment, pedometer education and staff training. The tailored (intervention) coaching phase (6-12 months, low and high support groups) included a monthly newsletter on physical activity and nutrition, weekly coaching calls on goal setting, overcoming barriers to healthy living and sustainable action plans (low and high support groups only); and monthly support group meetings (high support only). The results showed that both high and low support groups had more favorable outcomes than the awareness group (received monthly newsletter and an 800 telephone number to answer questions), with the high support group having the greatest reduction in BMI (8%) and fat intake (16%) and largest increase in emotional well being (6%), physical activity, and fruits/vegetables (31%) and fiber (6%) intake. More research is needed with larger sample sizes and longer intervention periods to determine the effectiveness of the tailored support system for individuals with severe mobility limitations and extreme obesity residing in difficult social environments.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the need for a staging period for the delivery of a healthcare-referred physical activity and nutrition program for people with mobility disabilities.
• Describe a physical activity and nutrition intervention for adults with mobility disabilities and extreme obesity living in difficult social environments.

Keywords: Disability,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation