title: 8 Steps to Fitness: a faith-based, behavior change physical activity intervention for African Americans.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Physical activity (PA) participation offers many benefits especially among ethnic groups that experience health disparities. Partnering with faith-based organizations allows for a more culturally tailored approach to changing health behaviors.
  
  
  METHODS
  8 Steps to Fitness was a faith-based behavior-change intervention promoting PA among members of African American churches. A quasi-experimental design was used to examine differences between the intervention group (n = 72) and comparison group (n = 74). Health (resting blood pressure, body mass index, waist-hip ratio, fasting blood glucose), psychosocial (PA self-efficacy, social support, enjoyment, self-regulation, depression), and behavioral variables (PA, diet) were assessed at baseline, 3- and 6-months. Repeated measures ANCOVAs tested changes across time between groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 3-months, the intervention group showed significantly more favorable changes in body mass index, waist circumference and social support than the control group. At 6-months, the intervention group showed significantly more favorable changes in hip circumference, waist to hip ratio, systolic blood pressure, and depressive symptoms. There was notable attrition from both the intervention (36%) and the comparison group (58%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study was conducted in a real-world setting, and provided insight into how to deliver a culturally-tailored PA intervention program for African Americans with a potential for dissemination.
authors: Dept of Kinesiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA.
authors: Melissa
authors: M
authors: Bopp
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Wilcox
authors: Marilyn
authors: M
authors: Laken
authors: Steven P
authors: SP
authors: Hooker
authors: Deborah
authors: D
authors: Parra-Medina
authors: Ruth
authors: R
authors: Saunders
authors: Kimberly
authors: K
authors: Butler
authors: Elizabeth A
authors: EA
authors: Fallon
authors: Lottie
authors: L
authors: McClorin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D012067:Religion; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose