title: Feasibility of an after-school group-based exercise and lifestyle programme to improve cardiorespiratory fitness and health in less-active Pacific and Maori adolescents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obesity and low levels of physical activity are increasing among Pacific and Maori adolescents in New Zealand.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the feasibility of an after-school exercise and lifestyle programme to improve cardiorespiratory fitness, health and usual activity in less-active Pacific and Maori adolescents over six weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen less-active secondary school students participated. The six-week programme included 3 x 1.5 hour exercise and healthy lifestyle sessions per week. Outcomes included estimated cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2max), insulin resistance (Homeostasis Model Assessment), physical activity, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting plasma glucose, blood pressure, waist circumference and fasting lipids, measured at baseline and six weeks. Programme attendance and qualitative comments were also recorded. Student's t-tests were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 18 students enrolled, 16 (89%) completed six-week follow-up, 14 (78%) were female, 13 (72%) were Pacific ethnicity and 5 (28%) were Maori . At baseline, mean age was 16.3 (standard deviation [SD] 1.0) years, body mass index (BMI) 35.2 (SD 6.7) kg/m2, VO2max 31.5 (SD 4.3) mL/kg/min, systolic blood pressure 125.0 (SD 12.9) mm Hg, HbA1c 39.9 (SD 3.8) mmol/mol, fasting serum insulin 28.3 (SD 27.8) μU/mL. At follow-up, improvements had occurred in VO2max (3.2 mL/kg/min; p=0.02), systolic blood pressure (-10.6 mm Hg; p=0.003), HbA1c (-1.1 mmol/mol; p=0.03) and weekly vigorous (4 hours, p=0.002) and moderate (2 hours, p=0.006) physical activity, although waist circumference increased (p=0.005). Programme attendance was over 50%. Comments were mostly positive.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The after-school exercise and lifestyle programme and study methods were feasible. Such programmes have the potential to improve health outcomes for Pacific and Maori adolescents.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Yongchie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chansavang
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. c.elley@auckland.ac.nz.
authors.forename: C Raina
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Elley
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport and Exercise Science, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Brighid
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: McCaffrey
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport and Exercise Science, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Chloe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.affiliation: Department of Pacific Health, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Ofa
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Dewes
authors.affiliation: Department of Recreation, Exercise and Sport Science, Western State Colorado University, USA.
authors.forename: Lance
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dalleck
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001786:Blood Glucose; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008019:Life Style; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010809:Physical Fitness; D055105:Waist Circumference
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D008055:Lipids