title: Intervention Effects on Latinas' Physical Activity and Other Health Indicators.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  U.S. Latinas do not engage in sufficient leisure-time physical activity. This study examined whether adding promotor-facilitated healthy lifestyle classes to an exercise intervention would promote exercise session attendance and improve health indicators.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Familias Sanas y Activas II (Healthy and Active Families II) study used a within-subjects, longitudinal design, with measures at baseline and at 6 and 12 months post-baseline. The intervention was developed by the San Diego Prevention Research Center and implemented between May 2011 and June 2014 in South San Diego County. Three organizations each hired a part-time coordinator and trained volunteer promotores (six to ten per organization) to deliver the intervention in various community locations. A convenience sample of 442 Latinas were in the evaluation cohort. Measured variables included a step test, blood pressure, waist circumference, height, and weight; physical activity was self-reported.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Attendance at healthy lifestyle classes was positively associated with exercise session attendance (p≤0.001). Mixed effects models showed improvements in systolic and diastolic blood pressure (p≤0.001); waist circumference (p≤0.001); weight (p≤0.05); and BMI (p≤0.05) between baseline and 12 months. At 12 months, fewer participants met clinical guidelines for being hypertensive and having an at-risk waist circumference. Exercise session attendance was associated with improved fitness (p≤0.05) and increased self-reported MET minutes of leisure-time physical activity (p≤0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The intervention represents an effective strategy for improving the health status of Latinas, a population with significant health disparities, including high obesity rates. Research efforts are needed to assess methods for scaling up such interventions.
authors.affiliation: College of Health and Human Services, San Diego State University, San Diego, California; Institute for Behavioral and Community Health, San Diego, California. Electronic address: ayala@mail.sdsu.edu.
authors.forename: Guadalupe X
authors.initials: GX
authors.lastname: Ayala
authors.affiliation: Institute for Behavioral and Community Health, San Diego, California.
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Molina
authors.affiliation: Institute for Behavioral and Community Health, San Diego, California; Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, California.
authors.forename: Hala
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Madanat
authors.affiliation: Institute for Behavioral and Community Health, San Diego, California; School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, San Diego State University, San Diego, California.
authors.forename: Jeanne F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Nichols
authors.affiliation: Institute for Behavioral and Community Health, San Diego, California; School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, San Diego State University, San Diego, California.
authors.forename: Thomas L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: McKenzie
authors.affiliation: Institute for Behavioral and Community Health, San Diego, California; College of Nursing, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.affiliation: Chula Vista Community Collaborative, Chula Vista, California.
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Holguin
authors.affiliation: Casa Familiar, San Ysidro, California.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cuestas
authors.affiliation: San Ysidro Health Center, San Ysidro, California.
authors.forename: Caryn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sumek
authors.affiliation: Institute for Behavioral and Community Health, San Diego, California.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Labarca
authors.affiliation: Institute for Behavioral and Community Health, San Diego, California.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Elvira
authors.affiliation: Institute for Behavioral and Community Health, San Diego, California; Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, California.
authors.forename: Elva M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Arredondo
authors.affiliation: Institute for Behavioral and Community Health, San Diego, California; Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, California.
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Elder
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010809:Physical Fitness; D055105:Waist Circumference