Fitness By Design - Results from a 5 year community based intervention

Background: North Carolina is the 17th highest ranked state for obese adults in the 2013 “F as in Fat” report. Targeted but effective healthy lifestyle promotion methods remain critical in rural Eastern NC, for the poor with limited or no access to exercise facilities/fitness regimens. In order to correct this social injustice and promote healthy living, Fitness by Design (FBD), a free regionally focused wellness project targeted low income adults at a high risk for obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes from 3 rural NC Counties over 5 years. 

Methods: The intervention included three fitness domains: Physical Activity, Nutrition and Social Support. Participants were enrolled based on having a physician referral and low-income status during screening. Study participants were primarily African American; on Medicaid with a mean BMI of 38.6 at entry into the program. 

Preliminary Results: Participants lost substantial inches from their waist circumference, while BMI dropped to a range of 28.3 - 48.5 over 5 years. Self-reported data showed increased participation in high strength training and Physical Activity greater than 30 mins at least three times per week. Dietary activity indicators showed more participants controlling their calorie intake and eating more vegetables. An unexpected but significant result reported were participants being taken off their depression and anxiety medications due to their improved health status.  

Discussion: The FBD program shows the impact enabling factors like fitness buddies, access to exercise equipment, nutrition workshops and a  recommendation can have in creating significant healthy lifestyle changes among low income at risk individuals in rural NC counties.