Rafei Boroujeni M¹ * (PhD), Panaghi L² (PhD), Abdoli B³ (PhD), Mohamad Kazemi R⁴ (PhD), Ahmadabadi S⁵ (PhD)

  ¹ Faculty of Sport Science, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

  ² Department of Family Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

  ³ Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Science, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

  ⁴ Sport Management Department, Faculty of Entrepreneurship, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

  ⁵ Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Humanities, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

  Received: 19 Sep 2013, Accepted: 25 Jan 2014

  Abstract

  Introduction: A growing body of evidence confirms that regular physical activity leads to multiple physiological and psychological benefits. The purpose of present study was to assess the effect of participating in health stations of Tehran municipality on general health, body composition, blood sugar and pressure of participant citizens.

  Methods: A total of 470 individuals including 197 women and 273 men (mean age 51.9±12.8 years) were selected using random cluster sampling from 22 regions of Tehran’s health stations. General Health (General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28)), Body fat, body mass index (BMI), waist to hip ratio (WHR), blood glucose and blood pressure were measured at baseline and eight weeks later.

  Results: Findings showed that body composition factors, blood glucose (pretest: 129.45±35.64 and posttest: 127.85±15.12 mg/dl) and blood pressure (pretest: max 129.9±4.7 min 79.7±3.7, posttest: max 124±4.2 min 75±4.1 mmHg) were significantly decreased in some regions of Tehran municipality (p<0.05). There were significant improvements in all subtests and general health in municipality regions (p< 0.05).

  Conclusion: Participating in exercise stations affected body composition factors, blood sugar and pressure. In general, participation in exercise stations is effective in improving health level of participant citizens.

  Keywords: BMI, WHR, physical health, anxiety, social function, depression

  Please cite this article as follows:

  Rafei Boroujeni M, Panaghi L, Abdoli B, Mohamad Kazemi R, Ahmadabadi S. Effect of Participating in Health Stations of Tehran Municipality on General Health, Body Composition, Blood Glucose, and Blood Pressure. Hakim Health Sys Res 2014 17(1): 78- 87.

  * Corresponding Author: Faculty of Sport Science, University of Isfahan, Azadi square, Isfahan, Iran. Tel: +98- 311- 7932358, +98- 912-3240955. E-mail: m.rafei@spr.ui.ac.ir