Factors Affecting Border Hispanics' Physical Activity Status and Improvements in a Chronic Diseases Prevention Program

Objectives. Physical activity (PA) is a modifiable factor in improving risk factors of chronic diseases. Our former research results showed that within a relative short period, PA improvements had a stronger effect on weight reduction and glycemic successes than dietary habits improvements. This study examined factors related to PA improvement in Alliance for a Healthy Border (AHB), a chronic disease prevention program through 12 federally qualified community health centers serving primarily Hispanics in communities along the U.S.-Mexico border. Methods. Logistic regression was performed to examine factors associated with baseline PA status (meet Healthy People 2010 PA recommendations). PA improvement was categorized as failure, low success, and high success. Multinomial regression was used to examine the determinants of PA improvements at program-end and post-six-month. Factors include socio-demographic, baseline health condition factors, and participant's determination of doing PA. Results. 80.6% of participants did not meet PA recommendation at baseline. Factors that associated with baseline PA status were age, employment status, health status, BMI, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and determination of doing PA. Factors significantly affected PA improvements not only include the above factors, but also include gender, birth country, income, insurance, smoking status, limits by problems, and number of children at home. Conclusions. The AHB programs demonstrated success in improving PA for the border Hispanic population. It is not surprising that a person's determination of doing PA was significantly associated with both his/her baseline PA status and PA improvements. This population is in critical need for effective educational programs to improve their PA.