Exploring Barriers to Exercise among Adolescents at the Burlington Boys and Girls Club

Introduction: The Boys and Girls Club of Burlington (BGCB) is a non-profit that holds after-school activities for adolescents, including music, art, technology, and sports. The BGCB has struggled to encourage physical activity (PA) among many participants. We designed our study to identify deterrents to PA, as well as possible ways to improve participation.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/comphp_gallery/1066/thumbnail.jp

Enhancing Attendance of the Greater Burlington YMCA Diabetes Fitness Program

Introduction: Since 1999, the Burlington YMCA has offered a free aerobics class to members of the community with diabetes. Additionally, the class regularly monitors participants’ health status. These data support the well-established benefit of exercise in diabetes. Medical Monitoring •hemoglobin A1C •blood pressure •resting pulse rate (before and after each twelve week session) About the Program •Began in 1999 •Free •Physician’s referral required •2h aerobics, twice per week: 1h land + 1h waterhttps://scholarworks.uvm.edu/comphp_gallery/1001/thumbnail.jp

Promoting Physical Activity in Local Communities: Understanding Health, Nutrition, and Physical Activity Needs in Winooski, VT

Introduction: Since the Winooski YMCA opened in March 2008, enrollment has been much lower than expected, with only 200 members enrolled by September 2008. One goal of the YMCA is to promote the health of the community by increasing involvement in physical activity in Winooski. Regular exercise is associated with enhanced health and decreased risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, as well as many cancers. In order to promote physical activity in the Winooski community, the YMCA set a goal to increase their enrollment to 500 members by December 2008.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/comphp_gallery/1005/thumbnail.jp

Emergency Department Use Among Vermont Homeless Families

Background: Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS) houses homeless individuals and families from the Burlington area. COTS believes that a high proportion of their residents use the Fletcher Allen Health Care Emergency Department (FAHCED) for their health care more frequently compared to the general population. There are many other primary care services offered in the Burlington area, such as Safe Harbor Clinic, Community Health Center, and private offices, which are more appropriate for non-emergent health concerns and are readily accessible to the homeless population. By surveying the population of homeless families in Burlington and conducting a focus group with the COTS staff, we hoped to discover the reasons for ED usage, potential barriers to primary health care, and any possible changes that could ameliorate the health care of this populationhttps://scholarworks.uvm.edu/comphp_gallery/1053/thumbnail.jp

What Are the Barriers and Motivators to Exercise in 50-65 Year-Old Adults?

Introduction. The benefit of exercise in adults has been well established. Research has demonstrated improved cardiovascular health, decreased bone fractures, and increased mental capacity. While the benefits of exercise has clearly been demonstrated, personal barriers to exercise are yet to be fully elucidated. Thus, in collaboration with the YMCA, this study aimed to clarify barriers to exercise in 50-65 year-old adults.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/comphp_gallery/1085/thumbnail.jp