Health promotion by means of health sport -: a framework and a controlled intervention study with sedentary adults

Only 10-20% of adults in industrialized countries reach the health-related minimum level of a consumption of energy of more than 800 kcal week(-1), additional to activities of daily living. The objective of this longitudinal study was to evaluate the impact of a health-promoting exercise program for sedentary adults on medical and subjective health status and on behavioral changes. The first 12 months of the study (t(1)-t(2)) consisted of a structured intervention exercise program. After this period, participants had the opportunity to stay in a follow-up-program or to change to other programs of the same club for further 12 months (t(2)-t(3)). Within these 2 years data have been collected from the intervention group (117 subjects) and control group (40 subjects). It can be shown that on the basis of a structured intervention (one session per week, 90 min, for 1 year), a stable behavioral change is reached with positive effects on fitness status, risk factors and mental health. Contrary to findings in other studies, the average health effects are at least stable in the second year in this study.