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Table 1 Aims and activities of healthy lifestyle counselling sessions for all interventions

From: Metabolic risk management, physical exercise and lifestyle counselling in low-active adults: controlled randomized trial (BELLUGAT)

N

Aims of the session

Example of meeting activities/actions (Participant actions unless otherwise specified)

1st Group Session

(week 1)

To explain the programme

To connect with the rest of the group and establish the dynamics of the meetings

To become aware of the benefits of a healthy lifestyle

To establish personal goals limiting the time spent in sedentary behaviours

Before the session

1. Browse the BELLUGA’T guide promoting a healthy lifestyle.

2. Review the schedule and the programme plan.

During the session

Leader’s action:

1. Present the programme: structure, dates, goals, strategies, etc.

2. Introduce ice-breaker and rapport-building activities.

Participant’s action:

1. Discuss beneficial effects of a healthy lifestyle.

2. Propose actions to reduce time spent in sedentary behaviours.

After the session

1. Read the guide’s article about encouraging a healthier lifestyle.

2. Establish personal goals to reduce time spent in sedentary behaviors, based on ideas listed during group session.

1st Individual Session

(week 2)

To become aware of the effect of his/her cardiovascular risk factors on his/her health status

To establish personal goals for controlling his/her risk factors and plan for the actions needed to succeed in achieving those goals

Before the session

Leader’s action:

1. Email results of baseline tests within 48 h of 1st session.

Participant’s action:

1. Read reports of basal tests.

2. Read the guide’s article about metabolic risk factors.

During the session

1. Discuss reports with the leader.

2. Discuss personal risk factors and establish personal goals for the short (2 weeks), mid (16 weeks), and long term (40 weeks).

3. Select actions to achieve personal goals to reduce metabolic risk factors.

After the session

1. Place actions needed to achieve risk factor goals in a visible place and start putting them into practice.

2nd Group Session

(week 4)

To become aware of the importance of a good workout

To establish personal goals to increase physical activity

Before the meeting

1. Read guide’s article about increasing physical activity.

2. Reassess personal level of physical activity according to the reported accelerometer data (guide).

During the session

Leader’s action:

1. Provide information about ways to achieve a physically active lifestyle.

2. Present specific information about training, hydration, and stretching.

3. Introduce digital resources to help participants be more active.

Participant’s action:

1. Discuss beneficial effects of physical exercise in addition to routine physical activity.

2. Brainstorm examples of physical activities and exercise programmes

After the session

1. Establish physical activity plan to be more active at work and in spare time in the next week.

2. Record physical activity in the smartphone application (app) or on paper.

3rd Group Session

(week 7)

To become aware of the possibilities of exercising at home, at work and in spare time using everyday items

To establish personal goals to increase physical exercise

Before the meeting

1. Read and watch the video from the guide about tips to be more active at home.

During the session

Leader’s action:

1. Demonstrate aerobic and strength exercises using stretch bands, dumbbells and improvised exercise material.

Participant’s action:

1. Work on aerobic and strength exercises with improvised materials.

2. Share ideas and discuss ways of incorporating physical exercise into daily routines.

After the session

1. Review the video of the aerobic and strength exercises practiced in class.

2. Establish physical exercise goals and record them in the app or on paper.

4 rd Group Session

(week 10)

To become aware of the importance of good nutrition

To establish personal goals to achieve good nutrition

Before the meeting

1. Read the guide’s article about healthy food choices.

During the session

Leader’s action:

1. Provide nformation about healthy benefits of healthy eating.

2. Present the healthy food pyramid and the Mediterranean diet concept.

Participant’s action:

1. Discuss the beneficial effects of healthy nutrition.

2. Brainstorm different ways of making healthy food choices.

After the session

1. Identify unhealthy food choices made and record them in the app or on paper.

2nd Individual Session

(week 12)

To assess the current routine of physical activity and exercise and establish new strategies if necessary

To become aware of the effect of good nutrition on his/her health status

To establish personal nutritional goals and the actions needed to achieve them

Before the meeting

Leader’s action:

1. Email results of baseline dietary habits questionnaire within 48 h of 2nd session.

Participant’s action:

1. Carry out a self-assessment of the establishment of physical activity/exercise goals and the progress made.

2. Read report of baseline dietary habits questionnaire.

3. Read the guide’s article about strategies to overcome nutritional barriers.

During the session

1. Review progress and resolve problems or setbacks in active lifestyle goal-setting and action planning.

2. Highlight positive changes and define potential ways forward, building on successes.

3. Discuss the dietary habits report with the leader and agree on personal goals.

4. Identify possible barriers to healthy eating and select actions/strategies to overcome them.

After the session

1. Develop physical activity and exercise plan for the upcoming weeks.

2. Place actions needed to achieve active lifestyle goals in a visible place and start putting them into practice.

6rd Group Session

(week 16)

To become aware of barriers to new activity and nutritional behaviors and devise strategies to overcome them

To establish new strategies to overcome barriers and maintain a new healthy lifestyle

Before the meeting

1. Read guide’s article about other healthy habits such as sleep and rest, reduce stress, no smoking, etc.

2. Review goals and think about new actions to overcome barriers.

During the session

Leader’s action:

1. Provide information about maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

2. Resolve doubts and facilitate access to additional resources that may be needed.

Participant’s action:

1. Share strategies to overcome barriers to new active lifestyle and dietary habits.

2. Brainstorm ideas to use the physical and social environment to become healthier.

After the session

1. Review materials, acquired knowledge and strategies.

2. Think about how to apply them in oneself current situation.

3rd Individual Session

(weeks 18–19)

To become aware of the effects of oneself new lifestyle on reducing

cardiovascular risk factors

To establish new weekly personal goals for the next 6 months

Before the meeting

Leader’s action:

1. Email results of post-intervention tests within 48 h of 1st session.

Participant’s action:

1. Read the email reports of post-intervention results.

2. Review initial metabolic risk factors results emailed after 1st group session.

During the session

1. Analyse progress based on 16-week follow-up report after 16 weeks) and resolve problems or setbacks.

2. Highlight positive changes and discuss potential ways forward.

3. Agree on relapse prevention plans (active lifestyle and healthy eating) for the next 6 months.

After the session

1. Maintain a new healthy lifestyle.

2. Keep a log of physical activity/exercise and eating habits, supported by the BELLUGA’T app.

3. Consult the programme guide, other educational material provided, and physical activity or primary healthcare professionals, as needed.