Girls on the move program to increase physical activity participation

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Adolescent Health
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Physical inactivity among adolescent girls poses significant health risks.
• Urgent need for effective interventions to combat sedentary lifestyles in this demographic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of the "Girls on the Move" program, combining tailored computer-based physical activity (PA) promotion with nurse counseling.
• To determine if this intervention could increase PA levels in middle school girls.

Main Methods:

• A pretest-posttest control group design was employed with 77 racially diverse, sedentary girls in grades 6-8.
• The intervention group received tailored feedback, nurse practitioner counseling, and support from research assistants, while the control group received a handout.
• Assessments were conducted at baseline and 12 weeks using computerized questionnaires.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in self-reported physical activity were found between the intervention and control groups at 12 weeks.
• A significant increase in social support for physical activity was observed in the intervention group compared to the control group.
• Social support for PA increased over time in the intervention group, while it decreased in the control group.

Conclusions:

• The "Girls on the Move" program did not significantly increase physical activity levels in adolescent girls.
• The intervention successfully enhanced social support for physical activity, suggesting its importance for future interventions.
• Findings provide valuable insights for developing future strategies to promote physical activity in youth.