The 2008 Great North Run as public health intervention: participant characteristics and changes in physical activity and body mass index from 20 weeks before to 20 weeks after the event
- Institute of Health and Society, William Leech Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Background
Mass participation sporting events are often proposed as methods of promoting physical activity and decreasing obesity. Little research has explored who takes part in such events or if participation leads to sustained behaviour change. The Great North Run (GNR), from Newcastle upon Tyne to South Shields (13.1 miles), is the UK’s largest mass participation sporting event.
Objectives
To describe the characteristics of non-elite runners in the 2008 GNR, and document group-level changes in physical activity and body mass index (BMI) between 20 …
