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"3.000 stepts more": A project to sustainably improve physical activity behaviour of people
Date Issued
2013-08
Abstract
Background: The WHO has identified physical inactivity as the fourth largest risk factor for global mortality. Studies show that lack of time is the main reason for inactive people to avoid any physical activity. Because of that interventions that integrate physical activity into daily life seem to be successful to sustainably improve physical activity behaviour of those people, who are hardly physically active.
Methods: Within the model project “Gemeinsam gesund im Bezirk Oberwart” a setting-oriented programme called „3.000 steps more“ was carried out. Target groups were pupils at five secondary schools, citizens of nine municipalities and employees of six companies. The aim was to improve leisure time physical activity level. During the first stage of the project participants were required to count their steps with a pedometer. During the second stage people were encouraged to increase their daily number of steps by 3.000. The participants (n=1.023) documented the number of steps in a diary and completed a questionnaire.
Results: The analyses show that 89% of participants increased their number of steps during the programme. 37% say that they have improved their physical activity behaviour, although nearly half of the participants met barriers during their way to an active lifestyle.
Conclusions: The intervention confirms results of other studies (e.g. Bravata, Smith-Spangler, Sundaram et al., 2007) which indicate that using a pedometer motivates inactive people to move. Also the WHO (2011) refers to the importance of everyday walking and has therefore recently developed a Health economic assessment tool (HEAT) for walking. In conclusion low-threshold projects that target integrating physical activity into everyday life make it possible to sustainably improve physical activity behaviour of people, who are generally difficult to achieve. Therefore intersectoral cooperation between health care, transport and urban planning is necessary.
Methods: Within the model project “Gemeinsam gesund im Bezirk Oberwart” a setting-oriented programme called „3.000 steps more“ was carried out. Target groups were pupils at five secondary schools, citizens of nine municipalities and employees of six companies. The aim was to improve leisure time physical activity level. During the first stage of the project participants were required to count their steps with a pedometer. During the second stage people were encouraged to increase their daily number of steps by 3.000. The participants (n=1.023) documented the number of steps in a diary and completed a questionnaire.
Results: The analyses show that 89% of participants increased their number of steps during the programme. 37% say that they have improved their physical activity behaviour, although nearly half of the participants met barriers during their way to an active lifestyle.
Conclusions: The intervention confirms results of other studies (e.g. Bravata, Smith-Spangler, Sundaram et al., 2007) which indicate that using a pedometer motivates inactive people to move. Also the WHO (2011) refers to the importance of everyday walking and has therefore recently developed a Health economic assessment tool (HEAT) for walking. In conclusion low-threshold projects that target integrating physical activity into everyday life make it possible to sustainably improve physical activity behaviour of people, who are generally difficult to achieve. Therefore intersectoral cooperation between health care, transport and urban planning is necessary.
Funding(s)
Gemeinsam gesund im Bezirk Oberwart
Type
Konferenzbeitrag
