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Randomised controlled trial of the Physical Activity Leaders (PALs) program for low-active adolescent boys from disadvantaged secondary schools
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2010 Asics Conference of Science and Medicine in Sport / Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport 13S (2010) e1–e107
along with quantitative assessment of key outcomes. Sedentary and moderate/vigorous activity behaviour was assessed by accelerometer and questionnaire. Diet behaviour was assessed by 3 day food diary. Results: In total 31 obese adolescents were invited to participate, 24 accepted and started the program and 16 completed the program. Qualitative feedback from both adolescent and parent participants found high levels of satisfaction with the program. Attendance rates were high. Clinically useful improvements in activity and diet behaviours were recorded by most, though not all, participants. Conclusion: This initial study demonstrated the acceptability and feasibility of a multi-disciplinary, familycentred, community-based intervention targeting activity, food and attitudes in overweight/obese adolescents. Further research using this approach will evaluate the sustainability of behavioural changes.
line and 6-month follow-up. Results: The mean (SD) age of participants was 14.3 (0.6) years. Retention rate at 3- and 6-months was 90% and 82%, respectively. At baseline, 22% of participants were considered overweight and 13% obese. Results revealed significant group × time interaction effects for weight (p < 0.001), BMI z-score (p < 0.001) and percent body fat (p < 0.05). Changes in muscular fitness were in the hypothesized direction, but were not significant. There were no changes in pedometer step counts over the study period. Conclusions: Adolescents in the PALs intervention significantly improved their body composition over the 6-month study period. The PALs program was a feasible and efficacious approach to preventing unhealthy weight gain among low-active adolescent boys from disadvantaged secondary schools. doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2010.10.486
doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2010.10.485 26 25 Randomised controlled trial of the Physical Activity Leaders (PALs) program for low-active adolescent boys from disadvantaged secondary schools D.
Lubans ∗ ,
P. Morgan, E. Aguiar, R. Callister
The University of Newcastle, Australia Purpose: Recent studies suggest that approximately a quarter of Australian youth are overweight or obese. While evidence suggests that socio-economic status is related to physical inactivity, poor dietary habits and obesity among adolescents, no previous obesity prevention program in Australia has specifically targeted economically disadvantaged adolescent boys. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a school-based intervention on unhealthy weight gain, physical activity and physical fitness among low-active adolescent boys from disadvantaged schools. Methods: Participants were 100 adolescent boys from four secondary schools located in the Hunter Region. Following baseline assessments, four schools were randomised to the Physical Activity Leaders (PALs) intervention (n = 50) or a wait list control (n = 50) group. The PALs intervention was developed in reference to Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory and was designed to encourage participants to become physical activity leaders in their homes and at school. The intervention included interactive seminars, health-related fitness sessions during school sport and at lunch-time, pedometers for self-monitoring and activities designed to engage parents in physical activity and healthy eating. Participants were assessed at baseline, 3month and 6-month follow-up on the following outcomes: height, weight, BMI z-score, waist circumference (umbilicus), body fat (bio-electrical impedance) and muscular fitness (isometric leg strength test, 7-stage sit-up test, push-up test). In addition, participants wore pedometers for 5-days at base-
Healthy homework pilot study: Qualitative findings from a physical activity and nutrition intervention for primaryaged children J. McPhee ∗ , S. Duncan, G. Schofield, C. Zinn Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand Introduction: While most health interventions in children focus on the school setting, evidence suggests that children participate in more unhealthy behaviours outside of school. A potential solution is the introduction of a compulsory healthrelated homework programme into the school curriculum; however, the feasibility and acceptability of implementing a non-academic homework syllabus in primary schools is unclear. Thus, the aim of this pilot study was to investigate child, parent, and teacher perceptions of an applied curriculum and homework programme for promoting physical activity and healthy eating in the home environment. Intervention: The 6-week “Healthy Homework” (HH) programme consists of an applied homework schedule comprised of five physical activity and five nutrition topics. All practical tasks are designed to encourage independent thinking and to facilitate interaction among family members. The programme is supported by a teaching resource that provides educational content aligned with the New Zealand Health and Physical Education Curriculum. Methods: The HH Pilot Study was implemented in four Year 5–6 classes from two diverse primary schools in Auckland, New Zealand. A total of 33 children, 18 parents, and four teachers participated in eight focus groups to elucidate the most enjoyable and productive activities, the barriers to completing homework and classroom tasks, and the ways in which HH could be more effective and relevant to the current primary school curriculum. Discussions were audiotaped, transcribed and analysed a 3-step qualitative process. Results: Our results revealed a high level of acceptance and engagement with the HH pro-
2010 Asics Conference of Science and Medicine in Sport / Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport 13S (2010) e1–e107
along with quantitative assessment of key outcomes. Sedentary and moderate/vigorous activity behaviour was assessed by accelerometer and questionnaire. Diet behaviour was assessed by 3 day food diary. Results: In total 31 obese adolescents were invited to participate, 24 accepted and started the program and 16 completed the program. Qualitative feedback from both adolescent and parent participants found high levels of satisfaction with the program. Attendance rates were high. Clinically useful improvements in activity and diet behaviours were recorded by most, though not all, participants. Conclusion: This initial study demonstrated the acceptability and feasibility of a multi-disciplinary, familycentred, community-based intervention targeting activity, food and attitudes in overweight/obese adolescents. Further research using this approach will evaluate the sustainability of behavioural changes.
line and 6-month follow-up. Results: The mean (SD) age of participants was 14.3 (0.6) years. Retention rate at 3- and 6-months was 90% and 82%, respectively. At baseline, 22% of participants were considered overweight and 13% obese. Results revealed significant group × time interaction effects for weight (p < 0.001), BMI z-score (p < 0.001) and percent body fat (p < 0.05). Changes in muscular fitness were in the hypothesized direction, but were not significant. There were no changes in pedometer step counts over the study period. Conclusions: Adolescents in the PALs intervention significantly improved their body composition over the 6-month study period. The PALs program was a feasible and efficacious approach to preventing unhealthy weight gain among low-active adolescent boys from disadvantaged secondary schools. doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2010.10.486
doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2010.10.485 26 25 Randomised controlled trial of the Physical Activity Leaders (PALs) program for low-active adolescent boys from disadvantaged secondary schools D.
Lubans ∗ ,
P. Morgan, E. Aguiar, R. Callister
The University of Newcastle, Australia Purpose: Recent studies suggest that approximately a quarter of Australian youth are overweight or obese. While evidence suggests that socio-economic status is related to physical inactivity, poor dietary habits and obesity among adolescents, no previous obesity prevention program in Australia has specifically targeted economically disadvantaged adolescent boys. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a school-based intervention on unhealthy weight gain, physical activity and physical fitness among low-active adolescent boys from disadvantaged schools. Methods: Participants were 100 adolescent boys from four secondary schools located in the Hunter Region. Following baseline assessments, four schools were randomised to the Physical Activity Leaders (PALs) intervention (n = 50) or a wait list control (n = 50) group. The PALs intervention was developed in reference to Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory and was designed to encourage participants to become physical activity leaders in their homes and at school. The intervention included interactive seminars, health-related fitness sessions during school sport and at lunch-time, pedometers for self-monitoring and activities designed to engage parents in physical activity and healthy eating. Participants were assessed at baseline, 3month and 6-month follow-up on the following outcomes: height, weight, BMI z-score, waist circumference (umbilicus), body fat (bio-electrical impedance) and muscular fitness (isometric leg strength test, 7-stage sit-up test, push-up test). In addition, participants wore pedometers for 5-days at base-
Healthy homework pilot study: Qualitative findings from a physical activity and nutrition intervention for primaryaged children J. McPhee ∗ , S. Duncan, G. Schofield, C. Zinn Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand Introduction: While most health interventions in children focus on the school setting, evidence suggests that children participate in more unhealthy behaviours outside of school. A potential solution is the introduction of a compulsory healthrelated homework programme into the school curriculum; however, the feasibility and acceptability of implementing a non-academic homework syllabus in primary schools is unclear. Thus, the aim of this pilot study was to investigate child, parent, and teacher perceptions of an applied curriculum and homework programme for promoting physical activity and healthy eating in the home environment. Intervention: The 6-week “Healthy Homework” (HH) programme consists of an applied homework schedule comprised of five physical activity and five nutrition topics. All practical tasks are designed to encourage independent thinking and to facilitate interaction among family members. The programme is supported by a teaching resource that provides educational content aligned with the New Zealand Health and Physical Education Curriculum. Methods: The HH Pilot Study was implemented in four Year 5–6 classes from two diverse primary schools in Auckland, New Zealand. A total of 33 children, 18 parents, and four teachers participated in eight focus groups to elucidate the most enjoyable and productive activities, the barriers to completing homework and classroom tasks, and the ways in which HH could be more effective and relevant to the current primary school curriculum. Discussions were audiotaped, transcribed and analysed a 3-step qualitative process. Results: Our results revealed a high level of acceptance and engagement with the HH pro-