title: Promoting physical activity in a multi-ethnic district - methods and baseline results of a pseudo-experimental intervention study.
abstract: METHODS
  A combined community and high-risk intervention study of three years duration started in one district in Oslo after a baseline health survey in two multi-ethnic and low socio-economic status (SES) districts, using a pseudo-experimental design with an age-matched sample from the other district as controls. The intervention focused on promoting physical activity to reduce the burden of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 6140 subjects were invited to participate (age group: 31-67). Data on health status and health-related behaviours, collected via standardized questionnaires, physical examinations and blood sample analyses, were available for 2950 persons (attendance rate 48%), whereas official statistics were available for the invited population.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of self-reported diabetes was 5.1% in men and 3.5% in women, but the total diabetes prevalence was 9% for men and 5.1% for women. One-third of the population were sedentary in their leisure time, men more than women (38% versus 29%). The prevalence of obesity did not differ between the genders (21% had BMI 30 kg/m(2)). The relatively high mean scores on most psychosocial variables related to physical activity, especially among women, indicate a high motivational readiness for increase in physical activity behaviour. The baseline data, for example on the prevalence of chronic diseases were similar in the two districts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of self-reported diabetes is remarkably higher than reported from other studies in Norway. The proportion of undiagnosed diabetes was higher than anticipated, and constituted 39% of all those categorized as diabetics.
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O. Box 4404 Nydalen, N-0403 Oslo, Norway. anne.karen.jenum@fhi.no
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karen Jenum
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lorentzen
authors.forename: Sigmund A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Anderssen
authors.forename: Kåre I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Birkeland
authors.forename: Ingar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Holme
authors.forename: Per G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Lund-Larsen
authors.forename: Yngvar
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ommundsen
authors.forename: Truls
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Raastad
authors.forename: Dag S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Thelle
authors.forename: Roald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bahr
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012107:Research Design; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires