The Inland Norway Healthy Life Center Study (INHLCS)

Healthy Life Centers (Norwegian, 'Frisklivssentralen') is a municipal service in Norway that aims to promote both physical and mental health, as well as to limit the development of non-communicable diseases. Previous research has shown that receiving follow-up from Healthy Life Centers has led to higher levels of daily physical activity, in addition to improved self-reported health and quality of life among the participants. However, there is a lack of studies that have examined what kind of physiological health effects can be expected from participating in the Healthy Life Center's follow-up. In this study, responses to the 12-week physical activity program of the Healthy Life Center will be compared with the responses in a negative control group that does not receive such follow-up. Both the intervention group and the reference group (the negative control group) will carry out the same tests and measurements before and after the 12 week period. The tests will include measurements of anthropometric variables (body height, body weight and waist circumference), body composition, arterial stiffness, resting blood pressure and blood variables (blood glucose, long-term blood glucose, blood lipid profile and inflammation markers), in addition to physical tests of mobility, balance, maximum aerobic capacity (maximal oxygen consumption) and maximum muscle strength. Questionnaires related to adherence to the Healthy Life Center follow-up, socio-demographic variables, eating and drinking habits, activity level, perceived physical fitness, motivation for exercise, and health-related quality of life will also be included.

Non-Communicable Chronic Diseases, Obesity, Insulin Resistance, Musculoskeletal Diseases, Psychological Disorder, Cardiovascular Diseases

The participants will receive the possibility to attend weekly endurance, resistance and yoga exercise sessions administered by the Healthy Life Center. They will also receive personalized follow-up from the Healthy Life Center, and have the possibility to exercise at the local gym.

Difference in change between the two study arms from before to after the 12-week intervention/control period

Difference in change between the two study arms from before to after the 12-week intervention/control period

Difference in change between the two study arms from before to after the 12-week intervention/control period

Difference in change between the two study arms from before to after the 12-week intervention/control period

Difference in change between the two study arms from before to after the 12-week intervention/control period

Difference in change between the two study arms from before to after the 12-week intervention/control period

Difference in change between the two study arms from before to after the 12-week intervention/control period

Difference in change between the two study arms from before to after the 12-week intervention/control period

Difference in change between the two study arms from before to after the 12-week intervention/control period

Difference in change between the two study arms from before to after the 12-week intervention/control period

Systemic inflammation markers (levels of c-reactive protein, TNF-alpha, interleukin 6 and interleukin 8 in serum, fasted state)

Difference in change between the two study arms from before to after the 12-week intervention/control period

Difference in change between the two study arms from before to after the 12-week intervention/control period

Health-related quality of life (measured using the SF-36 questionnaire; scores from 0-100, where a higher score means a better outcome)

Difference in change between the two study arms from before to after the 12-week intervention/control period

Difference in change between the two study arms from before to after the 12-week intervention/control period

Difference in change between the two study arms from before to after the 12-week intervention/control period

Difference in change between the two study arms from before to after the 12-week intervention/control period

Difference in change between the two study arms from before to after the 12-week intervention/control period

Difference in change between the two study arms from before to after the 12-week intervention/control period

Adherence to the 12-week intervention (measured as the number of sessions the participant attended divided by the number of sessions prescribed)

Compliance to the 12-week intervention (measured as the number of sessions the participant conducted the session as prescribed divided by the number of total sessions)

Intervention group Inclusion Criteria: >18 years of age Receiving follow-up from the Healthy Life Center Exclusion Criteria: In average >1 weekly exercise training session the last three months Reference group Inclusion Criteria: >18 years of age Exclusion Criteria: In average >1 weekly exercise training session the last three months Receiving follow-up from the Healthy Life Center