Effectiveness of physical activity promotion in blood pressure and blood sugar reduction: a community-based intervention study in rural south India

ABSTRACT

Physical activity of moderate intensity for 30 minutes a day, on most days substantially reduces the risk of many chronic diseases. To assess the effect of regular physical activity on blood pressure and blood sugar levels in a rural Indian community. This community-based study was carried out in Periakattupalayam and Rangareddipalayam in south India, with 485 subjects, aged 20 to 49 years. The study was done in five phases Awareness campaign, baseline assessment of participants, intervention phase [10 weeks], interim, and final assessment. Physical activity of moderate intensity [brisk walking for 30 minutes on four days / week] was promoted by forming 30 small walking groups, in a home-based setting, with professional supervision. Village leaders and Self-Help Group members were the resource people for the promotion of physical activity. Analysis was done by using paired 't' test; the 'Intention-to-Treat' approach was utilized for the interpretation of the findings of the study. Of the 485 subjects, 265 [54.6%] complied with walking on more than four days / week, while 156 [32.2%] walked on one to four days / week, and 64 [13.2%] dropped out during the intervention period. This study has shown that a 10-week intervention to promote physical activity was effective in significantly decreasing the population's BP by 1.56 / 0.74 mm Hg, fasting blood sugar levels by 2.82 mg%, body weight by 0.17 kg, and BMI by 0.06 kg / m[2]. This study has proved the functional feasibility of enabling people to undertake physical activity in a rural Indian community, and the effectiveness of using physical activity, to significantly reduce the population's mean BP and blood sugar levels