Abstract
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, 3-month 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 baseline 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.
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