Increasing activity to reduce obesity in adolescent girls: a research review

To provide a systematic review of physical activity intervention research conducted with adolescent girls (12-19 years of age and/or in middle or high school) in the United States and Canada during the past two decades.

Published articles in English were identified in searches using MEDLINE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PsycLIT, EMBASE, Science Citation Index, and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, with the keywords adolescent health, obesity, physical activity, and exercise, between the dates of May 1980 and November 2003.

Research studies with interventions that started within the adolescent time period. Only 7 studies met the inclusion criteria.

The publication year, sample description, study design, interventions used, and outcomes were extracted from each study.

The 7 studies were published between 1989 and 2003, included girls and boys in the overall sample (no studies with girl-only samples), used randomized controlled trial or quasi-experimental designs, and included multicomponent interventions. Body mass index, fitness levels, exercise, and weight were measured as outcomes.

Although the results were not consistent across studies, they suggest that school-based, multicomponent interventions that were also designed to decrease sedentary behavior were effective in increasing physical activity in adolescent girls. Future research should focus on determinants of long-term adherence and the duration and intensity of interventions necessary to prevent obesity in adolescent girls.