Promoting sustainable physical activity among middle-aged Iranian women: a conceptual model-based interventional...

Physical inactivity enhances the risk of adverse health conditions such as non-communicable diseases, morbidity, and mortality among middle- and older-aged population. This study is aimed to design, implement, and evaluate a conceptual model of physical activity (PA) promotion among middle-aged Iranian women (MAIW).

An interventional study was conducted with 80 women aged between 30 and 59 years in intervention and control groups during 2018-2019. The subjects referred to health centers were selected by the available convenience sampling method. Data collection tools to assess the MAIW' PA level (metabolic equivalent tasks (MET)-min/week) included face-to-face interviews, body mass index (BMI) measurements, the four-question form of PA vital signs in the framework of Iran's Package of Essential Non-communicable (IraPEN) program, and the questionnaire is based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) constructs.

The intervention led to a three-fold increase in the average PA (from 280.63 to 927.70 MET-min/week) of the intervention group. Although no significant difference in the BMI between both groups was found before the intervention, this educational program decreased the mean BMI from 30.36 to 28.83 kg/m² (p = 0.01). After the intervention, the values of HBM-based perceived sensitivity/severity and self-efficacy were increased from 62.09 to 71.03% and from 27.01 to 83.15%, respectively (p < 0.0001). There were no significant differences in the cue to action and perceived benefits and barriers after the intervention.

The developed model by increasing the motivation of MAIW could remarkably improve the PA level with a decrease in their BMI. Trial register Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT): IRCT20200717048124N1 at 2020-08-05, retrospectively registered.