Abstract
Background: Physical activity (PA) and fitness are critical to maintaining health and avoiding chronic disease. Limited access to fitness facilities in low-income urban areas has been identified as a contributor to low PA participation and poor fitness. Objectives: This research describes community-based fitness centers established for adults living in low-income, urban communities and characterizes a sample of its members. Methods: The community identified a need for physical fitness opportunities to improve residents’ health. Three community high schools were host sites. Resources were combined to renovate and staff facilities, acquire equipment, and refer patients to exercise. The study sample included 170 members older than age 18 who completed demographic, exercise self-efficacy, and quality of life surveys and a fitness evaluation. Neighborhood-level U.S. Census data were obtained for comparison. Results: The community-based fitness centers resulted from university, public school, and hospital partnerships offering safe, accessible, and affordable exercise opportunities. The study sample mean body mass index was 35 + 7.6 kg/m2 (class II obesity), mean age was 50 ± 12.5 years, 66% were Black, 72% were female, 66% completed some college or greater, and 71% had an annual household income of less than $25,000 and supported 2.2 dependents. Participants had moderate confidence for exercise participation and low fitness levels. When compared with census data, participants were representative of their communities. Conclusion: This observational study reveals a need for affordable fitness centers for low-income adults. We demonstrate a model where communities and organizations strategically leverage resources to address disparities in physical fitness and health.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 185-195 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action |
| Volume | 10 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| State | Published - Jun 1 2016 |
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Keywords
- Age
- Community health partnerships
- Community health research
- Community-based participatory research
- Delivery of health care
- Disadvantaged
- Exercise
- Exercise
- Fitness centers
- Gender
- Health disparities
- Health outcomes
- Health priorities
- Health promotion
- Race
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Health(social science)
- Education
- Sociology and Political Science
Cite this
PARCS : A safety net community-based fitness center for low-income adults. / Keith, Ni Cole; Mi, Deming; Alexander, Kisha; Kaiser, Stephanie; de Groot, Mary.
In: Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action, Vol. 10, No. 2, 01.06.2016, p. 185-195.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - PARCS
T2 - A safety net community-based fitness center for low-income adults
AU - Keith, Ni Cole
AU - Mi, Deming
AU - Alexander, Kisha
AU - Kaiser, Stephanie
AU - de Groot, Mary
PY - 2016/6/1
Y1 - 2016/6/1
N2 - Background: Physical activity (PA) and fitness are critical to maintaining health and avoiding chronic disease. Limited access to fitness facilities in low-income urban areas has been identified as a contributor to low PA participation and poor fitness. Objectives: This research describes community-based fitness centers established for adults living in low-income, urban communities and characterizes a sample of its members. Methods: The community identified a need for physical fitness opportunities to improve residents’ health. Three community high schools were host sites. Resources were combined to renovate and staff facilities, acquire equipment, and refer patients to exercise. The study sample included 170 members older than age 18 who completed demographic, exercise self-efficacy, and quality of life surveys and a fitness evaluation. Neighborhood-level U.S. Census data were obtained for comparison. Results: The community-based fitness centers resulted from university, public school, and hospital partnerships offering safe, accessible, and affordable exercise opportunities. The study sample mean body mass index was 35 + 7.6 kg/m2 (class II obesity), mean age was 50 ± 12.5 years, 66% were Black, 72% were female, 66% completed some college or greater, and 71% had an annual household income of less than $25,000 and supported 2.2 dependents. Participants had moderate confidence for exercise participation and low fitness levels. When compared with census data, participants were representative of their communities. Conclusion: This observational study reveals a need for affordable fitness centers for low-income adults. We demonstrate a model where communities and organizations strategically leverage resources to address disparities in physical fitness and health.
AB - Background: Physical activity (PA) and fitness are critical to maintaining health and avoiding chronic disease. Limited access to fitness facilities in low-income urban areas has been identified as a contributor to low PA participation and poor fitness. Objectives: This research describes community-based fitness centers established for adults living in low-income, urban communities and characterizes a sample of its members. Methods: The community identified a need for physical fitness opportunities to improve residents’ health. Three community high schools were host sites. Resources were combined to renovate and staff facilities, acquire equipment, and refer patients to exercise. The study sample included 170 members older than age 18 who completed demographic, exercise self-efficacy, and quality of life surveys and a fitness evaluation. Neighborhood-level U.S. Census data were obtained for comparison. Results: The community-based fitness centers resulted from university, public school, and hospital partnerships offering safe, accessible, and affordable exercise opportunities. The study sample mean body mass index was 35 + 7.6 kg/m2 (class II obesity), mean age was 50 ± 12.5 years, 66% were Black, 72% were female, 66% completed some college or greater, and 71% had an annual household income of less than $25,000 and supported 2.2 dependents. Participants had moderate confidence for exercise participation and low fitness levels. When compared with census data, participants were representative of their communities. Conclusion: This observational study reveals a need for affordable fitness centers for low-income adults. We demonstrate a model where communities and organizations strategically leverage resources to address disparities in physical fitness and health.
KW - Age
KW - Community health partnerships
KW - Community health research
KW - Community-based participatory research
KW - Delivery of health care
KW - Disadvantaged
KW - Exercise
KW - Exercise
KW - Fitness centers
KW - Gender
KW - Health disparities
KW - Health outcomes
KW - Health priorities
KW - Health promotion
KW - Race
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84975709493&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84975709493&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 27346764
AN - SCOPUS:84975709493
VL - 10
SP - 185
EP - 195
JO - Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action
JF - Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action
SN - 1557-0541
IS - 2
ER -