Effects of a lifestyle programme on accelerometer-measured physical activity level and sedentary time on overweight and obese women of Somali background living in Norway
Abstract Background Given the elevated prevalence and impact of overweight and the potential risk of non-communicable diseases among women of Somali background in high-income countries and recognising the potential positive impact of physical activity (PA) on these health conditions, it becomes impe...
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2025-04-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22475-z |
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| author | Eivind Andersen Linn Bohler Maria J. Leirbakk Danielle Cabral Mia C. Wedegren Mark L. Wieland Haakon E. Meyer Ahmed A. Madar |
| author_facet | Eivind Andersen Linn Bohler Maria J. Leirbakk Danielle Cabral Mia C. Wedegren Mark L. Wieland Haakon E. Meyer Ahmed A. Madar |
| author_sort | Eivind Andersen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Given the elevated prevalence and impact of overweight and the potential risk of non-communicable diseases among women of Somali background in high-income countries and recognising the potential positive impact of physical activity (PA) on these health conditions, it becomes imperative to focus on understanding the PA behaviour of this specific population. The objectives of this paper were twofold: firstly, to provide a comprehensive description of both objectively and subjectively measured PA level and sedentary time in a group of overweight women of Somali background in Norway, and secondly, to assess the effectiveness of a tailored, culturally sensitive, community-based intervention in increasing PA and reducing sedentary time. Methods 169 overweight women of Somali background in Norway were randomised by borough to either a lifestyle programme or a comparison group. The programme consisted of two sessions per week for 12 weeks, combining classroom discussion with graded group-based PA led by coaches, followed by monthly sessions over nine months. PA was measured objectively using the ActivPAL monitor and subjectively using the international PA questionnaire short form (IPAQ-SF) at baseline and 12 months after baseline. Results The women took on average 6804 (SD = 3286) steps per day and were sedentary for 9.1 (SD = 3) hours per day at baseline. There were no differences between groups on any accelerometer measured PA variable at any timepoint. There were significant differences on vigorous intensity PA (25.9 min; 95% CI 7.7, 44.1) and total PA (77.6 min; 95% CI 13.2, 142.1) at the 12-month measurement session between the two groups using the IPAQ-SF. Conclusion Despite observing initially low PA levels and high sedentary time at baseline and thus a considerable potential for intervention, the intervention failed in attaining an increase in accelerometer measured PA or reduction in sedentary time compared to the control condition. However, self-reported measures indicated success in these aspects. The potential threats to the programme’s reliability and validity include high drop-out rates possible due to the COVID-19 pandemic, contamination and low attendance rates. These challenges underscore the complexity of interventions in this demographic, emphasising the need for further exploration and refinement of methodologies to effectively enhance PA levels and reduce sedentary time in immigrant women living in high-income countries. Trial registration clinicaltrials.gov NCT04578067, registered May 2021. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d0d589927c234f1cab82331c51a2ee1c |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-d0d589927c234f1cab82331c51a2ee1c2025-08-20T03:10:13ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-04-0125111110.1186/s12889-025-22475-zEffects of a lifestyle programme on accelerometer-measured physical activity level and sedentary time on overweight and obese women of Somali background living in NorwayEivind Andersen0Linn Bohler1Maria J. Leirbakk2Danielle Cabral3Mia C. Wedegren4Mark L. Wieland5Haakon E. Meyer6Ahmed A. Madar7Faculty of Humanities, Sports and Educational Science, University of South-Eastern NorwayDepartment of Community Medicine and Global Health, Institute of Health and Society, University of OsloDistrict Sagene, Oslo MunicipalityDistrict Gamle Oslo, Oslo MunicipalityDistrict Sagene, Oslo MunicipalityCenter for Health Equity and Community Engagement Research, Mayo ClinicDepartment of Community Medicine and Global Health, Institute of Health and Society, University of OsloDepartment of Community Medicine and Global Health, Institute of Health and Society, University of OsloAbstract Background Given the elevated prevalence and impact of overweight and the potential risk of non-communicable diseases among women of Somali background in high-income countries and recognising the potential positive impact of physical activity (PA) on these health conditions, it becomes imperative to focus on understanding the PA behaviour of this specific population. The objectives of this paper were twofold: firstly, to provide a comprehensive description of both objectively and subjectively measured PA level and sedentary time in a group of overweight women of Somali background in Norway, and secondly, to assess the effectiveness of a tailored, culturally sensitive, community-based intervention in increasing PA and reducing sedentary time. Methods 169 overweight women of Somali background in Norway were randomised by borough to either a lifestyle programme or a comparison group. The programme consisted of two sessions per week for 12 weeks, combining classroom discussion with graded group-based PA led by coaches, followed by monthly sessions over nine months. PA was measured objectively using the ActivPAL monitor and subjectively using the international PA questionnaire short form (IPAQ-SF) at baseline and 12 months after baseline. Results The women took on average 6804 (SD = 3286) steps per day and were sedentary for 9.1 (SD = 3) hours per day at baseline. There were no differences between groups on any accelerometer measured PA variable at any timepoint. There were significant differences on vigorous intensity PA (25.9 min; 95% CI 7.7, 44.1) and total PA (77.6 min; 95% CI 13.2, 142.1) at the 12-month measurement session between the two groups using the IPAQ-SF. Conclusion Despite observing initially low PA levels and high sedentary time at baseline and thus a considerable potential for intervention, the intervention failed in attaining an increase in accelerometer measured PA or reduction in sedentary time compared to the control condition. However, self-reported measures indicated success in these aspects. The potential threats to the programme’s reliability and validity include high drop-out rates possible due to the COVID-19 pandemic, contamination and low attendance rates. These challenges underscore the complexity of interventions in this demographic, emphasising the need for further exploration and refinement of methodologies to effectively enhance PA levels and reduce sedentary time in immigrant women living in high-income countries. Trial registration clinicaltrials.gov NCT04578067, registered May 2021.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22475-zImmigrant Somali womenLifestyle programmeOverweightPhysical activitySedentary timeActivPAL |
| spellingShingle | Eivind Andersen Linn Bohler Maria J. Leirbakk Danielle Cabral Mia C. Wedegren Mark L. Wieland Haakon E. Meyer Ahmed A. Madar Effects of a lifestyle programme on accelerometer-measured physical activity level and sedentary time on overweight and obese women of Somali background living in Norway BMC Public Health Immigrant Somali women Lifestyle programme Overweight Physical activity Sedentary time ActivPAL |
| title | Effects of a lifestyle programme on accelerometer-measured physical activity level and sedentary time on overweight and obese women of Somali background living in Norway |
| title_full | Effects of a lifestyle programme on accelerometer-measured physical activity level and sedentary time on overweight and obese women of Somali background living in Norway |
| title_fullStr | Effects of a lifestyle programme on accelerometer-measured physical activity level and sedentary time on overweight and obese women of Somali background living in Norway |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of a lifestyle programme on accelerometer-measured physical activity level and sedentary time on overweight and obese women of Somali background living in Norway |
| title_short | Effects of a lifestyle programme on accelerometer-measured physical activity level and sedentary time on overweight and obese women of Somali background living in Norway |
| title_sort | effects of a lifestyle programme on accelerometer measured physical activity level and sedentary time on overweight and obese women of somali background living in norway |
| topic | Immigrant Somali women Lifestyle programme Overweight Physical activity Sedentary time ActivPAL |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22475-z |
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