title: Comparing of goal setting strategy with group education method to increase physical activity level: A randomized trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Designing an intervention to increase physical activity is important to be based on the health care settings resources and be acceptable by the subject group. This study was designed to assess and compare the effect of the goal setting strategy with a group education method on increasing the physical activity of mothers of children aged 1 to 5.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mothers who had at least one child of 1-5 years were randomized into two groups. The effect of 1) goal-setting strategy and 2) group education method on increasing physical activity was assessed and compared 1 month and 3 months after the intervention. Also, the weight, height, body mass index (BMI), waist and hip circumference, and well-being were compared between the two groups before and after the intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Physical activity level increased significantly after the intervention in the goal-setting group and it was significantly different between the two groups after intervention (P < 0.05). BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, and well-being score were significantly different in the goal-setting group after the intervention. In the group education method, only the well-being score improved significantly (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study presented the effects of using the goal-setting strategy to boost physical activity, improving the state of well-being and decreasing BMI, waist, and hip circumference.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Nasrin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jiryaee
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Zahra Dana
authors.initials: ZD
authors.lastname: Siadat
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Ahmadreza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zamani
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Roya
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Taleban
keywords: Physical activity; exercise; goal setting; health education; mothers; obesity; waist circumference; well being