Randomized Controlled Trial to Increase Physical Activity Among Hispanic-American Middle School Students

Area of Science:

• Adolescent Health
• Exercise Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Physical activity, specifically moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), tends to decrease during adolescence, with girls experiencing a more pronounced decline.
• This decline poses public health challenges, potentially contributing to increased rates of obesity and related health issues in youth.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a circuit-based physical activity intervention compared to traditional physical education (PE) in maintaining or increasing MVPA among middle school students.
• To examine the intervention's impact on MVPA and standardized BMI (zBMI) stratified by sex and weight classification.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 193 Hispanic-American middle school students in Houston, Texas.
• Participants were assigned to either a circuit-based physical activity intervention or physical education (PE) as usual (TAU).
• MVPA was measured using accelerometry at baseline and 6 months, with repeated measures ANCOVA used for analysis. zBMI was also analyzed.

Main Results:

• Overall, students in the intervention group showed greater increases in weekday MVPA compared to the TAU group.
• Intervention girls significantly increased weekday MVPA, while TAU girls experienced a decrease.
• Among students with obesity, the intervention group showed a significant decrease in zBMI compared to the TAU group, although MVPA did not differ.

Conclusions:

• Structured physical education (PE) programs, especially those incorporating behavioral theory, can be effective in preventing declines in MVPA among adolescents.
• These findings highlight the importance of targeted interventions for girls and for youth classified as having obesity to promote sustained physical activity and healthy weight management.