Feasibility and Acceptability of a Community and Family-Based Fitness and Healthy Lifestyle Program Among Latino Families: The Athletes for Life Program

Abstract

Promoting fitness may be a viable and acceptable approach for chronic disease prevention. This pilot study evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a behavioral and fitness-oriented intervention called “Athletes for Life Program” (AFL) implemented in a community center. AFL was a pre-post, 6-week program. Latino families (n = 24) participated in weekly 90-minute physical activity (PA) and nutrition sessions. Measures included fitness, accelerometer-measured PA, body mass index (BMI), and self-report survey. Feasibility and acceptability were evaluated via post-intervention interviews. Intervention effects were tested using paired samples t-test and qualitative data via thematic analysis. Most parents were female (96%) and Latino (79%), while children were male (57%) and Latino (83%). Retention and attendance rates were 75% and 67% for parents and 81% and 70.8% for children. Children improved muscular endurance, speed, and cardiovascular endurance (P < 0.01), with no change in habitual Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA). There were significant reductions in children’s consumption of soda (2.0 ± 1.4 vs 1.6 ± 1.2, P < 0.01), fruit-flavored drinks (2.0 ± 1.5 vs 1.1 ± 1.3, P = .01), and eating cake/pastries (1.48 ± 1.1 vs 1.0 ± 0.8, P = .05). Families expressed interest in continuing to participate in AFL. AFL is a promising family-based fitness-focused program to improve health among Latinos.