Examining physical activity levels and attitudes to physical activity in older Mexican women following six-month lifestyle intervention program

Introduction: Older Latinas are particularly vulnerable for unhealthy lifestyle behaviors and the resultant chronic diseases and conditions. This is consistent with the general finding that physical inactivity is a significant public health challenge among minority populations. Culturally sensitive initiatives to promote physical activity (PA) are needed to address this shortcoming. This study examined the effect of a lifestyle intervention program on PA levels and attitudes to PA change in older Mexican women living in United States.

Methods: Eighteen Mexican women ages 50+ (M= 64; SD=9 years) residing in a Hispanic Chicago community were invited to participate in the “Abuelas en Accion” program (AEA). AEA is a culturally sensitive program that incorporates both intergenerational activities and religious content through educational workshops on PA, nutrition, and stress management. Weekly PA was objectively assessed pre- and post- 6 months interventions using Actigraph GT3X accelerometers. Participants’ perception of PA change was assessed by in-depth interviews.

Results: After the intervention, participants significantly increased by 65 min/wk their moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) (t (17) = 2.11, p≤.05). Participants reported changes in their perceptions of PA after the program: greater commitment to better health through PA; greater ability to overcome obstacles to active living; and improved understanding of how incorporating PA into daily life can be important.

Discussion

The lifestyle intervention program was effective in increasing MVPA of the participants. Such increases in MVPA may reflect participants’ efforts to adopt more active lifestyles through active commuting, such as walking and other activities such as shopping.