Physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness and CVD risk factors in a group of Pakistani immigrant men living in Norway - effects of a randomized controlled physical activity intervention : The Physical Activity and Minority Health Study

Abstract

The cross-sectional data confirmed the high CVD risk in this group as shown by the low level of PA, low peak oxygen uptake, and high prevalence of the metabolic syndrome, obesity and insulin resistance, especially among taxi drivers. The intervention significantly increased both the short- and long-term PA level. Although social support for PA and outcome expectancies increased significantly, the factors mediating the change in PA could not be identified. The intervention improved peak oxygen uptake, insulin and C-peptide concentrations, BMI and waist circumference in the intervention group compared with the control group. The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and related factors did not differ between the groups at follow-up 1. Increased PA level was associated with beneficial changes in plasma insulin concentration after adjusting for waist circumference. Conclusions Levels of PA and CRF are low, and risk factors for CVD are high among Pakistani immigrant men living in Oslo, Norway. An SCT based multicomponent PA programme with Pakistani immigrant men beneficially influenced the PA level both in the short- and long-term, and may thereby reduce their long-term risk of developing T2D and CVD.

Paper I: Eivind Andersen, Arne Torbjørn Høstmark, Catherine Lorentzen, Sigmund Alfred Anderssen. Low level of objectively measured physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness, and high prevalence of metabolic syndrome among Pakistani male immigrants in Oslo, Norway. Norsk Epidemiologi 2011; 20 (2): 199-208

Paper II: Andersen E, Høstmark AT, Holme I, Anderssen SA. Intervention effects on physical activity and insulin levels in Pakistani immigrant men living in Oslo: a randomised controlled trial. Submitted to Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice.

Paper III: Andersen E, Høstmark AT, Anderssen SA. Effect of a physical activity intervention on the metabolic syndrome in Pakistani immigrant men: a randomised controlled trial. In press in Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health.

Paper IV: Physical activity level were maintained six months after a randomised controlled physical activity intervention – a follow-up study on Pakistani immigrant men living in Norway. Accepted in International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity.