Reducing sedentary behavior in minority girls via a theory-based, tailored classroom media intervention.

OBJECTIVE

To develop, implement and test an innovative, theory-based classroom media intervention known as Get Moving! to increase physical activity and decrease sedentary behaviors in predominantly Latina middle school girls.

RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES

School-based intervention on five to seven consecutive school days in seven schools (four intervention and three control) with high Latino populations (above 60%). Intervention schools were matched to control schools by ethnic makeup and socioeconomic status (SES). Measures conducted 3 months before and 3 months after intervention included height, weight, percentage body fat (bioimpedance analysis), physical activity and psychosocial aspects of activity by questionnaire. Subjects were middle school girls, mean age 12.5 years old, 73% Latina (N=459 girls).

RESULTS

Get Moving! significantly reduced time spent on sedentary behavior (beta+/- standard error, SE=-0.27+/-0.14, p<0.05) and significantly increased intrinsic motivation (beta+/-SE=0.11+/-0.05, p<0.05). There was a trend for mediation effects of intrinsic motivation, but this did not reach significance.

DISCUSSION

Get Moving! is a promising school-based approach that specifically targets physical activity and sedentary behavior in Latina girls, a population at high risk for obesity and related diseases.