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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Selvopplevd helse og fysisk aktivitet : effekten av en tilpasset og (e)post basert fysisk aktivitetsintervensjon på selvopplevd helse blant fysisk inaktive voksne i alderen 40-55 år

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Masteroppgave i folkehelsevitenskap- Universitetet i Agder, 2012 Background Physical inactivity is a leading risk factor for morbidity and mortality. The trend has become a major public health problem and burden on society, both economic and social are high. In order to monitor a population's health the traditionally measured parameters are birth-, mortality- and morbidity rates in the population. In recent years, an increased focus has been on individual’s subjective experience of his or her health. Existing research shows that monitoring self-perceived health can provide good information about populations sick leave, future morbidity and mortality. Physically inactive individuals report lower self-perceived health than the individual who are regarded as sufficiently active. Objective The purpose of this thesis was to investigate if an applied telephone and (e) mail based physical activity intervention has an effect on the self-perceived health in inactive adults, and whether there is an association between self-perceived health and VO2maks. Sample and method The sample consisted of 111 inactive men and women aged 40-55 years from both Agder counties. All participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups: an intervention group or a control group. Participants in the intervention group received the results from the first medical examination, a customized training program complete with tips and advice as well as telephone and / or (e) mail counselling twice a month through the intervention period of 6 months. New exercise programs were sent after 2 and 4 months to ensure a gradual progression in the physical activity level. The participant’s self-perceived health and VO2max were recorded in a medical examination at the start of the intervention (0 mnd) and at the end of the intervention (6 months). This study is part of Aktiv i Sør project.. Results Results from 81 men (n=28) and women (n=53) were included in the final analyzes. 51% of the participants in the intervention group versus 30% in the control group reported an improved self-perceived health, but only in the intervention group the changes were statistically significant (p = 0.034). Self perceived health had a positive correlation with VO2max (p = 0.006). The results indicate that a fitted and cost effective telephone and (e) mail-based physical activity intervention can improve the self-perceived health among physically inactive adults aged 40 - 55 years and that there are an association between perceived health and VO2max.