TY - JOUR
T1 - The impact of a 6-week community-based physical activity and health education intervention—a pilot study among Irish farmers
AU - Kavanagh, Ruth
AU - Cooper, Diane
AU - Bolton, John
AU - Keaver, Laura
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland.
PY - 2022/2
Y1 - 2022/2
N2 - Background: There is a higher prevalence of lifestyle-related diseases among Irish farmers than the general adult population. Lifestyle interventions that increase physical activity and improve dietary patterns have been associated with reduced chronic disease risk and improved quality of life among high-risk populations. The impact of lifestyle interventions among Irish farmers is unknown. Aim: To assess the effectiveness of a community-based intervention on farmer health, cardiovascular fitness, lower limb strength endurance, and dietary intake. Methods: A 6-week physical activity and lifestyle education intervention involving two 60-min circuit-based exercise training sessions and one 60-min health education workshop per week was implemented. Pre- and post-measurements included total body weight, body fat percentage, lean muscle mass, resting blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, cardiovascular fitness, lower limb strength, perceived physical and mental health, and dietary intake. Results: Thirty farmers completed the intervention giving an adherence rate of 75%. At baseline, mean BMI (32.7 ± 4.1 kg/m2), body fat percent (31.7 ± 6.7), waist circumference (110.2 ± 10.4 cm), systolic (128.7 ± 7.8 mmHg) and diastolic (86.2 ± 6.8 mmHg) blood pressure were higher than recommended levels. Significant improvements (p < 0.05) were found for total body weight, BMI, waist and hip circumferences, cardiovascular fitness, lower limb strength endurance, systolic blood pressure, total energy, total fat, total unsaturated fat, monounsaturated fat, saturated fat, trans fat, total carbohydrate, sodium, cholesterol and percentage energy intakes of total fat, saturated fat, protein, and physical and mental health scores. Conclusions: Irish farmers remain at high risk of developing chronic diseases but respond positively to lifestyle intervention.
AB - Background: There is a higher prevalence of lifestyle-related diseases among Irish farmers than the general adult population. Lifestyle interventions that increase physical activity and improve dietary patterns have been associated with reduced chronic disease risk and improved quality of life among high-risk populations. The impact of lifestyle interventions among Irish farmers is unknown. Aim: To assess the effectiveness of a community-based intervention on farmer health, cardiovascular fitness, lower limb strength endurance, and dietary intake. Methods: A 6-week physical activity and lifestyle education intervention involving two 60-min circuit-based exercise training sessions and one 60-min health education workshop per week was implemented. Pre- and post-measurements included total body weight, body fat percentage, lean muscle mass, resting blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, cardiovascular fitness, lower limb strength, perceived physical and mental health, and dietary intake. Results: Thirty farmers completed the intervention giving an adherence rate of 75%. At baseline, mean BMI (32.7 ± 4.1 kg/m2), body fat percent (31.7 ± 6.7), waist circumference (110.2 ± 10.4 cm), systolic (128.7 ± 7.8 mmHg) and diastolic (86.2 ± 6.8 mmHg) blood pressure were higher than recommended levels. Significant improvements (p < 0.05) were found for total body weight, BMI, waist and hip circumferences, cardiovascular fitness, lower limb strength endurance, systolic blood pressure, total energy, total fat, total unsaturated fat, monounsaturated fat, saturated fat, trans fat, total carbohydrate, sodium, cholesterol and percentage energy intakes of total fat, saturated fat, protein, and physical and mental health scores. Conclusions: Irish farmers remain at high risk of developing chronic diseases but respond positively to lifestyle intervention.
KW - Community
KW - Farmer
KW - Health
KW - Intervention
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85102320106&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s11845-021-02579-2
DO - 10.1007/s11845-021-02579-2
M3 - Article
C2 - 33686569
AN - SCOPUS:85102320106
SN - 0021-1265
VL - 191
SP - 433
EP - 445
JO - Irish Journal of Medical Science
JF - Irish Journal of Medical Science
IS - 1
ER -