Healthy Life Centers (Norwegian, 'Frisklivssentralen') is a municipal service in Norway that aims to promote both physical and mental health, as well as to limit the development of non-communicable diseases. Previous research has shown that receiving follow-up from Healthy Life Centers has led to higher levels of daily physical activity, in addition to improved self-reported health and quality of life among the participants. However, there is a lack of studies that have examined what kind of physiological health effects can be expected from participating in the Healthy Life Center's follow-up. In this study, responses to the 12-week physical activity program of the Healthy Life Center will be compared with the responses in a negative control group that does not receive such follow-up. Both the intervention group and the reference group (the negative control group) will carry out the same tests and measurements before and after the 12 week period. The tests will include measurements of anthropometric variables (body height, body weight and waist circumference), body composition, arterial stiffness, resting blood pressure and blood variables (blood glucose, long-term blood glucose, blood lipid profile and inflammation markers), in addition to physical tests of mobility, balance, maximum aerobic capacity (maximal oxygen consumption) and maximum muscle strength. Questionnaires related to adherence to the Healthy Life Center follow-up, socio-demographic variables, eating and drinking habits, activity level, perceived physical fitness, motivation for exercise, and health-related quality of life will also be included.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
60
The participants will receive the possibility to attend weekly endurance, resistance and yoga exercise sessions administered by the Healthy Life Center. They will also receive personalized follow-up from the Healthy Life Center, and have the possibility to exercise at the local gym.
Maximal oxygen consumption (measured in mL/kg body mass/min)
Difference in change between the two study arms from before to after the 12-week intervention/control period
Time frame: From before to after the 12-week intervention/control period
Balance, measured using the "single leg stance test" (measured in seconds)
Difference in change between the two study arms from before to after the 12-week intervention/control period
Time frame: From before to after the 12-week intervention/control period
Mobility, measured using the "sit-and-reach" and the "back stretch" test (measured in centimeters)
Difference in change between the two study arms from before to after the 12-week intervention/control period
Time frame: From before to after the 12-week intervention/control period
Fat mass (measured in kilograms)
Difference in change between the two study arms from before to after the 12-week intervention/control period
Time frame: From before to after the 12-week intervention/control period
Lean mass (measured in kilograms)
Difference in change between the two study arms from before to after the 12-week intervention/control period
Time frame: From before to after the 12-week intervention/control period
Bone mineral density ( measured in g/cm2)
Difference in change between the two study arms from before to after the 12-week intervention/control period
Time frame: From before to after the 12-week intervention/control period
Visceral fat (measured in grams)
Difference in change between the two study arms from before to after the 12-week intervention/control period
Time frame: From before to after the 12-week intervention/control period
Blood glucose levels (serum, fasted state)
Difference in change between the two study arms from before to after the 12-week intervention/control period
Time frame: From before to after the 12-week intervention/control period
Cholesterol and total triglyceride levels (serum, fasted state)
Difference in change between the two study arms from before to after the 12-week intervention/control period
Time frame: From before to after the 12-week intervention/control period
Resting blood pressure
Difference in change between the two study arms from before to after the 12-week intervention/control period
Time frame: From before to after the 12-week intervention/control period
Systemic inflammation markers (levels of c-reactive protein, TNF-alpha, interleukin 6 and interleukin 8 in serum, fasted state)
Difference in change between the two study arms from before to after the 12-week intervention/control period
Time frame: From before to after the 12-week intervention/control period
Arterial stiffness
Difference in change between the two study arms from before to after the 12-week intervention/control period
Time frame: From before to after the 12-week intervention/control period
Health-related quality of life (measured using the SF-36 questionnaire; scores from 0-100, where a higher score means a better outcome)
Difference in change between the two study arms from before to after the 12-week intervention/control period
Time frame: From before to after the 12-week intervention/control period
Body mass index
Difference in change between the two study arms from before to after the 12-week intervention/control period
Time frame: From before to after the 12-week intervention/control period
Maximal muscle strength (measured in newtons produced during a leg press exercise)
Difference in change between the two study arms from before to after the 12-week intervention/control period
Time frame: From before to after the 12-week intervention/control period
Maximal muscle power (measured in watts produced during a leg press exercise)
Difference in change between the two study arms from before to after the 12-week intervention/control period
Time frame: From before to after the 12-week intervention/control period
Waist circumference
Difference in change between the two study arms from before to after the 12-week intervention/control period
Time frame: From before to after the 12-week intervention/control period
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