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Increase in physical activity among Central Brooklyn residents participating in an incentive‐based walking program
Author(s) -
Hoy-Rosas Jamillah,
Klein Brett
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.26.1_supplement.257.8
Subject(s) - medicine , incentive , physical therapy , blood pressure , physical activity , diabetes mellitus , gerontology , blood sugar , economics , microeconomics , endocrinology
Intro The “Brooklyn‐Stay Well, Enjoy Life” (B‐SWEL) program is a grant funded initiative sponsored by the Office of Minority Health that will provide 1,200 Central Brooklyn residents with screening, education, and diabetes prevention services over 3 years. B‐SWEL aims to help pre‐diabetics avoid disease progression and diabetics successfully manage their illness. Clients receive individual case management and group services to help them achieve weight loss, reduce blood pressure and control blood sugar. Methods B‐SWEL participants enrolled in a 6‐month walking program. They received an accelerometer that tracked their daily steps for 7 days. Participants were offered 3 occasions per week to participate in an hour‐long neighborhood group walk. Participants received cash incentives for achieving the highest number of steps per week and per month. Results 20 participants enrolled. 95% of participants were Black, 65% were obese, 55% had high blood pressure, 20% were pre‐diabetic and 45% were diabetic. Average number of weekly steps of the participants at the onset of program was 60,291. After 1 month, the average number of weekly steps increased to 63,956. Conclusion Incentive‐based walking programs conducted in community‐based settings are an important way to increase physical activity among high‐risk populations.