Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026
Visualization of Intensity Levels to Reduce the Gap Between Self-Reported and Directly Measured Physical Activity
Published on: March 7, 2019
A randomized controlled trial of single versus multiple health behavior change: promoting physical activity and
Judith J Prochaska1, James F Sallis
1Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA. jodijpr@itsa.ucsf.edu
Abstract:
Targeting multiple behaviors for change may provide significant health benefits. This study compared interventions targeting physical activity and nutrition (PAN) concurrently versus physical activity (PA) alone. Adolescents (N=138) were randomized to the PAN or PA intervention or control condition (n=46 per group). Primary outcomes were change in PA accelerometer and 3-day dietary recording from baseline to 3-month follow-up. The PAN and PA interventions were efficacious in supporting boys' (p<.001) but not girls' (p=.663) PA relative to the control condition. Dietary change was minimal. Although the findings do not reveal a decrement to PA promotion when a nutrition intervention was added, neither do they reveal any additional benefit. More studies comparing single versus multibehavioral interventions are needed.
