Move to Improve: A New Lifestyle

Obesity is a complex public health concern. According to Harvard and George Washington University public health researchers, by 2030, half of the United States population will be obese, and one fourth of adults will be severely obese . Lifestyle modifications are the cornerstone of managing obesity. Even with increased awareness, inactivity is expected in the adult population . Primary care providers can integrate the Health Belief Model in encouraging their patients to be physically active. Methods: ‘Move to Improve’ is a multi-modal intervention that incorporates educational sessions by healthcare professionals and a personal trainer along with motivational calls encouraging participants to engage in physical activity. The project recruited patients at a primary care clinic between 18- 69 years of age with a body mass index (BMI) of greater than 25. This project compared physical activity of the participants, before and after intervention, using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Results: The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, two tailed paired t-test and Wilcoxon signed rank test. Post-intervention total physical activity levels increased (p-0.022), and body weight decreased (p= 0.002) compared to pre-intervention. Conclusion: Move to Improve is an intervention that can be utilized by primary care providers to assist patients at risk for obesity and encourage them to incorporate an active lifestyle.