'Regular physical activity is linked to a reduced risk of obesity and chronic disease. African American women bear a disproportionate burden from these conditions and many do not get the recommended amount of physical activity,' scientists writing in the journal Health Education & Behavior report.
'Long-term success of interventions to initiate and maintain a physically active lifestyle among African American women has not been realized. By clearly elucidating the process of physical activity adoption and maintenance, effective programming could be implemented to reduce African American women's burden from chronic conditions. In-depth interviews were conducted with physically active African American women. Grounded theory, a rigorous qualitative research method used to develop theoretical explanation of human behavior grounded in data collected from those exhibiting that behavior, was used to guide the data collection and analysis process,' wrote A.E. Harley and colleagues, Harvard University.
The researchers concluded: 'Data derived inductively from the interviews and focus groups guided the development of a behavioral framework explaining the process of physical activity evolution.'
Harley and colleagues published their study in Health Education & Behavior (Developing Long-Term Physical Activity Participation: A Grounded Theory Study With African American Women. Health Education & Behavior, 2009;36(1):97-112).
Additional information can be obtained by contacting A.E. Harley, Harvard University, School Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, 7th Floor, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
The publisher of the journal Health Education & Behavior can be contacted at: Sage Publications Inc., 2455 Teller Rd., Thousand Oaks, CA 91320, USA.
Keywords: United States, Boston, Life Sciences, Obesity, Bariatrics, Chronic Disease, Women's Health, Behavior, Health & Society, Harvard University.
This article was prepared by Education Letter editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Education Letter via VerticalNews.com.
