title: Promotion of physical activity in low-income mothers using pedometers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study tested the effectiveness of a pedometer program for increasing physical activity levels and reducing body weight in overweight and obese mothers of young children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants' motivational readiness to exercise, exercise self-efficacy, pedometer steps, pedometer kilocalories, and anthropometrics were evaluated at week 0 and week 8; anthropometrics were reassessed at week 24. Healthful-weight mothers provided comparison data at baseline.
  
  
  METHODS
  A convenience sample of 93 intervention women (body mass index [calculated as kg/m(2)] >or=25) and 31 comparison women (body mass index <25) were recruited from public health clinics, community centers, and churches. Eligibility criteria included Hispanic, African-American, or white ethnicity and low income (<200% of the federal poverty index).
  
  
  METHODS
  An 8-week physical activity and dietary program was conducted.
  
  
  METHODS
  Motivational readiness to exercise, exercise self-efficacy, pedometer steps, and weight loss.
  
  
  METHODS
  Independent sample t tests, chi(2) tests, paired t tests, Wilcoxon signed-ranks tests, repeated measures analysis of variance, and Pearson and Spearman correlations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mothers enhanced their motivational readiness to exercise, exercise self-efficacy, pedometer steps, and pedometer kilocalories. Reductions in body weight, percent body fat, and waist circumference also were observed. Significant correlations were found between exercise self-efficacy and exercise readiness (r=0.28, P<0.01), pedometer steps (r=0.30, P<0.01), and pedometer kilocalories (r=0.28, P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This intervention successfully increased the physical activity levels and promoted weight loss in low-income mothers. Public health clinics may wish to incorporate elements of this intervention into their programs to improve the physical fitness of recipients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nutrition, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
authors.forename: Kristine K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: Jeanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Freeland-Graves
authors.forename: Deborah M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Klohe-Lehman
authors.forename: Tracey J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Milani
authors.forename: Henry J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Nuss
authors.forename: Shirley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Laffrey
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D009042:Motivation; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011203:Poverty; D020377:Self Efficacy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*; D015431:Weight Loss