“Feasibility of a group-based exercise programme among Maori and Pacific adolescents”

YONGCHIE CHANSAVANG

Introduction 1. Benefits of physical activity

2. Harms of physical inactivity

3. Physical inactivity in Maori and Pacific Island adolescents

4. The adolescent exercise intervention

5. Methods and Participants

6. Intervention

7. Data Collection

8. Results

9. Conclusions, Implications and Recommendations

Benefits of physical activity in adolescents

1. develop healthy musculoskeletal tissues (i.e. bones, muscles and joints)

2. develop a healthy cardiovascular system (i.e. heart and lungs)

3. develop neuromuscular awareness (i.e. coordination and movement control);

4. maintain a health body weight

5. reduction in the risk of diabetes and many other diseases

6. reduction in anxiety and depression

7. adoption of healthy behaviours carried into adulthood

Harms of physical inactivity • Fourth leading risk factor for global

mortality (WHO, 2013)

• Accounts for 3.2 million deaths globally

• Higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, ovarian/colon/breast cancers, osteoporosis, and depression.....

Maori and P.I Adolescents

• Highest obesity rate in comparison to all other ethnic groups and rising

• Pacific 5.3 times more likely to develop obesity

• Higher inactivity levels than rest of popn

• Half do not participate in sport • HOWEVER... High incidental physical

activity

Aims and objectives of the study

1. Is it feasible to run an exercise program that will encourage adolescents to increase their own physical activity?

2. In a group of less active adolescents at risk of diabetes in later life, can a group-based exercise programme increase fitness and usual activity and reduce insulin resistance over 6 weeks?

3. Will there be an increase in the duration of physical activity and VO2max in a 6 week exercise intervention?

Ethics and trial registration

The study was granted approval by The University of Auckland Human Participants Ethics Committee (ref. 9819) on 19/06/2013 for a period of three years. The pilot study was registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR): ACTRN12613000691741.

The Adolescent Exercise Study Study design:

"Before-after" intervention feasibility study of an exercise and educational intervention

1 intervention group and follow-up completed immediately post-in

Pilot for larger RCT

Participants:

◦ Senior students attending Tamaki College

between 16-18 years of age* ◦ Physically inactive or engaging in less than two

organised exercise or sports sessions per week on a regular basis

◦ Interested in an exercise program to improve fitness and health

*Under-16s offered participation only if sample size does not exceed maximum capacity of 30 participants.

The Intervention

Group-based exercise and lifestyle intervention programme held in community gym straight after school, 3 times a week over a 6 week period.

1 hour long sessions including a variety of moderate-high intensity activities such as dancing, basketball, touch-rugby, games, interval training, kickboxing and many more

Healthy snacks and education provided at the end of each session

Social support and motivation through txts

Data Collection- assessed at baseline and 6 weeks

Primary outcome measures:

1. Cardio-respiratory fitness (VO2max): as

assessed by the ‘1-mile walk test’.

2. Insulin resistance*: calculated according to Homeostatic Model, using fasting blood glucose and insulin levels

Secondary outcomes:

1. Usual physical activity levels: using the short form of the international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ)3, accelerometer and smart phone

2. Waist circumference

3. HbA1c*

4. Blood pressure

5. Fasting lipid profile*

6. Attendance at exercise sessions

*Blood tests are voluntary, obtained with consent

Some senior students in the program re-fuelling with bananas post- workout Fruit kindly donated by Dole

Preliminary results

20 students enrolled with consent given, ages 15-18- Mean 16.45 years (1.1)

12 participants completed the program on a regular basis (attended more than 10 sessions out of 17)

Data analysis still underway

Unconcluded findings (initial impressions)

1. Improvements in cardio-respiratory fitness

2. Improvements in insulin resistance

3. Increase in physical activity shown in IPAQ

4. Weight loss

5. Steady attendance

6. Feeling happier, fitter, more confident

Conclusions, Implications and Recommendations

An increase in physical activity and education may improve cardio-respiratory fitness and usual activity in sedentary Maori and Pacific Islander adolescents

A group-based exercise programme can be easily sustained and appears to be a promising means for improving fitness and reducing the risk of diabetes and CVD in Maori and Pacific secondary students

Measures were feasible and performed well

Findings from this study can help to inform future youth exercise programmes

Contribute to the running of an exercise trial (on a larger scale) in the near future

The inclusion of more group-based aerobic games in future exercise programmes with this population

More research is still needed

Acknowledgements

The University of Auckland:

Dr Raina Elley (General Practice and Primary Health Care)

Dr Lance Dalleck (Sports and Exercise Science

Dr Ofa Dewes (Pacific Health)

Dr Ralph Maddison (National Institute for Health Innovation)

Miss Brighid McCaffrey (Sports and Exercise Science)

Miss Chloe Davidson (Sports and Exercise Science)

Community:

Mr Lee Jones (Tamaki community gym manager)

Mr Jason Borland (Head of the Dept of Physical Education)

Mrs Soana Pamaka, (Tamaki College principal)

Miss Tania Crothall (Tamaki Clinic Nurse)

Sponsored by: MOH ‘Kete Moui o Tamaki’ grant, PBRS grant, New World Lunn Ave, Countdown, Dole and Schultz