The impact of participating in an activity programme (10,000 steps @ work lite programme) on dietary change : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Nutritional Science at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
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Date
2009
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Massey University
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Abstract
High levels of diet related chronic disease in New Zealand has lead to the
development of health promotion programmes. The work place is an important
venue to implement health promotion programmes to encourage staff to make
healthy lifestyle choices.
The aim of this research is to examine if a physical activity programme may be a
‘gateway’ to other positive behavioral changes such as healthy eating and/or cutting
down smoking. This research introduces a health promotion programme to
employees at a call centre. The intervention involved 3 groups: the health promotion
group (HPG), which received both the physical activity programme (10,000 steps @
work ‘lite’ programme) plus nutritional information; the nutritional group (NG),
which received only the nutritional information and the control group (CG), which
did not take part in the intervention.
The impact of the nutritional seminars with or without the exercise programme was
measured by the participants’ reported fruit, vegetable, snack consumption and
transtheoretical stages of change for exercise, fruit and vegetable intake, healthy
snacking and smoking. A questionnaire was used to collect data retrospectively.
The health promotion group (HPG) made positive changes in all behaviours unlike
the nutritional group (NG) and the control group (CG). This provides some support
for the hypothesis that physical exercise may act as a ‘gateway’ to other positive
behavioural changes.
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Keywords
Health promotion, Physical activity, Nutrition, Exercise programme