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Community health-related physical fitness testing and the National Garden Festival Health Fair at Stoke-on-Trent

A brief review of the literature on the effectiveness of health-related fitness (HRF) tests in the promotion of exercise is presented. The paper then describes one particular community project which used HRF tests as part of exercise promotion. The purpose of such a project was to give people some indication of their present cardio-respiratory fitness, muscular strength, and flexibility with a view to highlighting the components of HRF and areas of concern for future action. Other measures, such as self-reported activity patterns, smoking, alcohol, and diet were also taken. During the six months of the Festival in 1986, over 250,000 people visited the Health Fair (HF), and 15,000 volunteered to take the fitness tests; 13,373 were actually completed. As part of the evalu ation of the HRF tests at the HF, a sample of 3,000 (500 per month) was used. A follow-up survey on 350 was mailed 12 months after the end of the Festival and 173 people replied. The follow-up survey showed that just under 50 per cent of males followed their 8-week exercise programme (given to them after their HRF tests) for the recommended time period. However, this figure dropped to 21.4 per cent for females. Of those who started exercise after their HRF tests, 12.5 per cent (females) and 18.4 per cent (males) gave up within two months, otherwise most were still involved (87.5 per cent females, 71.4 per cent males) after 12 months. Subjective feelings reported in the follow-up survey were generally positive with the majority 'feeling fitter' and reporting being mentally alert, having more energy and feelings of well-being. There was some indication that other health behaviours changed alongside exercise.