Effects of a 10-Week Physical Activity Intervention on Asylum Seekers’ Physiological Health
Guerra, Matheus ; Garcia, Danilo LU
; Kazemitabar, Maryam
; Lindskär, Erik
; Schütz, Erica
and Berglind, Daniel
(2022)
In Brain Sciences
12(7).
- Abstract
Introduction: The rise in armed conflicts has contributed to an increase in the number of asylum seekers. Prolonged asylum processes may negatively affect asylum seekers’ health and lead to inactivity. Studies show that physical activity interventions are associated with improvements in health outcomes. However, there are a limited number of studies investigating the associations of physical activity on asylum seekers’ health. Methods: Participants (263 males and 204 females), mostly from Syria, were assessed before and after a 10-week intervention for VO2 max, body mass index (BMI), skeletal muscle mass (SMM), body fat, and visceral fat. Linear mixed models were used to test differences within groups, and a linear regression... (More)
Introduction: The rise in armed conflicts has contributed to an increase in the number of asylum seekers. Prolonged asylum processes may negatively affect asylum seekers’ health and lead to inactivity. Studies show that physical activity interventions are associated with improvements in health outcomes. However, there are a limited number of studies investigating the associations of physical activity on asylum seekers’ health. Methods: Participants (263 males and 204 females), mostly from Syria, were assessed before and after a 10-week intervention for VO2 max, body mass index (BMI), skeletal muscle mass (SMM), body fat, and visceral fat. Linear mixed models were used to test differences within groups, and a linear regression model analysis was performed to test whether physiological variables predicted adherence. Results: Participants’ VO2 max increased: males by 2.96 mL/min/kg and females 2.57 mL/min/kg. Increased SMM percentages were seen in both genders: females by 0.38% and males 0.23%. Visceral fat area decreased: males by 0.73 cm2 and females 5.44 cm2 . Conclusions: Participants showed significant increases in VO2 max and SMM and decreased visceral fat. This study provides an insight into asylum seekers’ health and serves as a starting point to new interventions in which physical activity is used as a tool to promote and improve vulnerable populations’ health.
(Less)
- author
- Guerra, Matheus
; Garcia, Danilo
LU
; Kazemitabar, Maryam
; Lindskär, Erik
; Schütz, Erica
and Berglind, Daniel
- organization
- publishing date
- 2022-07
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- asylum seekers, intervention, physical activity, physiological health, VO max
- in
- Brain Sciences
- volume
- 12
- issue
- 7
- article number
- 822
- publisher
- MDPI AG
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85133284910
- pmid:35884629
- ISSN
- 2076-3425
- DOI
- 10.3390/brainsci12070822
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 2a86a64d-4681-4973-a0cc-8d1107098838
- date added to LUP
- 2022-09-15 15:30:10
- date last changed
- 2024-04-14 15:54:44
@article{2a86a64d-4681-4973-a0cc-8d1107098838,
abstract = {{<p>Introduction: The rise in armed conflicts has contributed to an increase in the number of asylum seekers. Prolonged asylum processes may negatively affect asylum seekers’ health and lead to inactivity. Studies show that physical activity interventions are associated with improvements in health outcomes. However, there are a limited number of studies investigating the associations of physical activity on asylum seekers’ health. Methods: Participants (263 males and 204 females), mostly from Syria, were assessed before and after a 10-week intervention for VO<sub>2</sub> max, body mass index (BMI), skeletal muscle mass (SMM), body fat, and visceral fat. Linear mixed models were used to test differences within groups, and a linear regression model analysis was performed to test whether physiological variables predicted adherence. Results: Participants’ VO<sub>2</sub> max increased: males by 2.96 mL/min/kg and females 2.57 mL/min/kg. Increased SMM percentages were seen in both genders: females by 0.38% and males 0.23%. Visceral fat area decreased: males by 0.73 cm<sup>2</sup> and females 5.44 cm<sup>2</sup> . Conclusions: Participants showed significant increases in VO2 max and SMM and decreased visceral fat. This study provides an insight into asylum seekers’ health and serves as a starting point to new interventions in which physical activity is used as a tool to promote and improve vulnerable populations’ health.</p>}},
author = {{Guerra, Matheus and Garcia, Danilo and Kazemitabar, Maryam and Lindskär, Erik and Schütz, Erica and Berglind, Daniel}},
issn = {{2076-3425}},
keywords = {{asylum seekers; intervention; physical activity; physiological health; VO max}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{7}},
publisher = {{MDPI AG}},
series = {{Brain Sciences}},
title = {{Effects of a 10-Week Physical Activity Intervention on Asylum Seekers’ Physiological Health}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12070822}},
doi = {{10.3390/brainsci12070822}},
volume = {{12}},
year = {{2022}},
}