10 Feb Primary Care Intervention Program Increased Physical Activity in Women

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Molly B. Conroy MD, MPH
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Epidemiology, and Clinical and Translational Science
University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA,

Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Response: The background for the study is the fact that middle-aged women are at high risk for being physically inactive, which puts them at higher risk for heart disease, cancer, and other chronic health problems.

We compared an interventionist-led physical activity and weight loss program delivered in coordination with primary care to a booklet that women were asked to use to exercise by themselves at home. We found that women who received the interventionist-led program had significantly greater increases in physical activity at 3 months, compared to women who received booklet. At 12 months, women who received the interventionist-led program were still more active than they were before starting the program, although the difference between the 2 groups was no longer significant.

Medical Research: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?

Response: Clinicians and patients should be encouraged that it is never “too late” to start on a physical activity program, and that even overweight and obese patients with medical problems can start exercise in a safe and enjoyable fashion. Clinicians and patients should also consider what type of support an individual needs and try to find a program that offers that type of support. Our study suggests that for middle-aged women that some component of interventionist and group support is helpful for increasing physical activity.

Medical Research: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Response: The most important future research would be research focusing on how to best keep women engaged in a program after starting. We are currently evaluating a new program that uses the electronic health record as a tool to keep patients who have made recent healthy lifestyle changes engaged, motivated, and active.

Citation:

Effectiveness of a Physical Activity and Weight Loss Intervention for Middle-Aged Women: Healthy Bodies, Healthy Hearts Randomized TrialMolly B. Conroy MD, MPH,Kathleen L. Sward PhD, MPH,Kathleen C. Spadaro PhD,Dana Tudorascu PhD,Irina Karpov MS,Bobby L. Jones PhD,Andrea M. Kriska PhD, Wishwa N. Kapoor MD, MPH

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:, & Molly B. Conroy MD, MPH (2015). Primary Care Intervention Program Increased Physical Activity in Women MedicalResearch.com

Last Updated on February 10, 2015 by Marie Benz MD FAAD