Goal Setting and Lifestyle (GSDB)

The primary aim of this feasibility study is to determine if a theory-based lifestyle intervention consisting of telephone counseling is associated with improvements in physical activity and dietary intake.

Goal setting has become an integral part of physical activity and dietary interventions; however, few studies have examined the theoretical constructs that drive goal-setting theory. To address the limitations and gaps in the literature, we designed an 8-week health behavior intervention for a racially and ethnically diverse sample of older adults. The primary aim of this study was to determine whether older adults randomized to a goal-setting intervention for physical activity or fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake would make significant improvements in physical activity or F&V intake. The secondary aim of this study was to determine whether participating in goal-setting interventions was associated with changes in theoretical constructs related to goal-setting. We hypothesized that older adults assigned to the physical activity condition would significantly increase metabolic minutes (MET-minutes) of physical activity from baseline to follow-up and that participants assigned to the F&V intake condition would significantly increase mean servings of F&V. In addition, we hypothesized that mean scores of goal specificity, difficulty, effort, commitment, persistence, barrier self-efficacy, and task self-efficacy would significantly increase from baseline to follow-up for both groups.

• Physical Activity
• Diet

• Behavioral: Physical activity
  Participants received two individually tailored phone calls and two condition specific newsletters encouraging goal setting and weighing the pros and cons for physical activity.
• Behavioral: Fruit and vegetable
  Participants received two individually tailored phone calls and two condition specific newsletters encouraging goal setting and weighing the pros and cons for fruit and vegetable consumption.

• Experimental: Physical activity
  Participants received individual tailored telephone counseling and group-tailored newsletters encouraging leisure time physical activity. Content was based on goal setting theory and decisional balance.
  Intervention: Behavioral: Physical activity
• Experimental: Fruit and vegetable
  Participants received individual tailored telephone counseling and group-tailored newsletters encouraging fruit and vegetable intake. Content was based on goal setting theory and decisional balance.
  Intervention: Behavioral: Fruit and vegetable

Inclusion Criteria:

• must be 55 years or older,
• posses a telephone,
• able to give informed consent, and
• commit to a 10 week study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• currently enrolled in a study promoting physical activity or dietary intake,
• currently exceeding current recommendations for physical activity or F&V intake at baseline, and
• medical conditions contraindicating physical activity or fruit and vegetable consumption.