title: Adherence to and effects on physical function parameters of a community-based standardised exercise programme for overweight or obese patients carried out by local sports clubs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the adherence to a sports-club-based standardised real-life exercise programme for overweight or obese patients. The effects on physical function parameters, anthropometry and quality of life were also assessed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Within this prospective cohort study data from patients in Austrian sports-club-based programmes were analysed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sports-club-based programmes were held twice a week and carried out by local trainers. The target group was overweight or obese patients. Adherence was determined after 2 and 6 months, and physical function parameters were evaluated at baseline and after 2 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 71 patients (age: 52.0; standard deviation [SD: 12.1] years; body mass index [BMI]: 37.3 [SD: 8.2] kg/m2) took part in the study. Within the first 2 months the adherence rate was 62%, while 20% (14/71) participated in ≥75% of all offered sessions. After 6 months, 49% (17/35) of the retained sample still participated regularly in an exercise class. At baseline, muscle strength represented only 70% of the age- and sex-specific reference values and could be increased in a range from +4.0% (1.3 [SD: 3.0] kg; muscular endurance for the pectoral muscles) to +22.5% (16.1 [SD: 17.5] kg) (muscular endurance for the lower limb muscles). Concerning endurance capacity, the heart rate for a constant submaximal workload decreased from 126.4 (SD: 21.7) beats per minute at baseline to 120.9 (SD: 21.1) after 2 months (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sports clubs, as a non-clinical setting, can offer attractive standardised exercise programmes for a minority of overweight or obese patients. Long term changes in life-style, that result in sufficient levels of health enhancing physical activity still remain a huge public health challenge.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion and Prevention, SPORTUNION Österreich, Falkestrasse 1, 1010 Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: c.lackinger@sportunion.at.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lackinger
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion and Prevention, SPORTUNION Österreich, Falkestrasse 1, 1010 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wilfinger
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion and Prevention, SPORTUNION Österreich, Falkestrasse 1, 1010 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mayerhofer
authors.affiliation: Competence Center Health Promotion, Social Insurance Authority for Business, Osterwiese 2, 7000 Eisenstadt, Austria.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Strehn
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Care, Social Insurance Authority for Business, Wiedner Hauptstrasse 84-86, 1051 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dick
authors.affiliation: Institute of Social Medicine, Centre for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15/1, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Dorner
mesh_terms: D001317:Austria; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D020446:Fitness Centers; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D050177:Overweight / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life
keywords: Adherence; Obesity; Overweight; Real-life exercise; Sports clubs; Standardised exercise programme