An important element of a healthy ...

An important element of a healthy lifestyle is physical activity. Unfortunately, physical activity declines substantially during adolescence. This is particularly actual among adolescent girls, 48 percent of whom report soft levels of physical activity by the agency of the time they are in the 12th grade. Adolescent girls are les likely than adolescent lads to participate in physical activity. Overweight adolescent girls are at an steady greater risk for low of the same heights of physical activity. To perform the operations indicated in interventions to prevent this decline in physical activity among adolescent girls, it is important to understand the factors that affect activity of the same heights in this group. In a comprehensive review of the studies published forward this topic, the only conclusion that could be drawn was that more studies are needinessed Most of the studies assessed information onward population-based samples of adolescents and did not examine the issues from one side of to the other time. Neumark-Sztainer and associates evaluated the factors associated with changes in physical activity evens in adolescent girls at risk for sedentary lifestyles and obesity.

This cohort subject of attention examined the impact of a school-based obesity prevention physical education program in succession adolescent girls at six high place of educations The schools were randomized into three intervention and three superintend schools. Girls in the intervention cluster were enrolled in the just discovered Moves program, which consisted of five days for week of education, including physical activity, for 16 weeks. Adolescent girls with soft levels of physical activity and girls who were in the precontemplation, contemplation, or preparation stage for change in physical activity were chooseed for participation. The program consisted of physical activity, nutritional guidance, and social support. The nonintervention cluster received minimal information about healthy eating and physical activity. Each assign places to was assessed at baseline, postintervention, and at follow-up eight month later. The assessment included information concerning physical activity and variables from the personal, behavior, and socioenvironmental domains.

The authors recorded 201 high school girls in the consideration with 90 girls in the intervention arrange The strongest and most consistent factors for change were time constraints and support for physical activity from fellows parents, and teachers. In addition, self-worth with regard to physical activity was associated with change in activity evens A decrease in the perceived time constraints could spring in an average increase of 53 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity by week. An increase in perceived support for physical activity could originate in an average increase of 35 minutes by week, and an improvement in self-worth could rise in an average increase of 19 minutes by week of moderate to vigorous physical activity.

The authors judge that interventions aimed at increasing the rate of physical activity among adolescent girls might be made more effective by means of developing support from friends, families, and caring adults; addressing real and perceived time constraints; and improving girls' confidence in their ability to engage in physical activity. If these factors are addressed, the interventions may have a better chance at success

Neumark-Sztainer D et al. Factors associated with changes in physical activity. A cohort subject of attention of inactive adolescent girls. Arch Pediatr Adolesc M August 2003;157:803-10

EDITOR'S NOTE: The alarming increase in the rate of obesity among children and adolescents is a major health trouble in the United States. The majority of these [i]role[/i]s will likely continue to be obese into their adult years and cause to grow obesity-related diseases. To help physicians who care for children understand the issues related to obesity in this age collection the August 2003 issue of Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine was dedicated to this make subordinate This journal made it obvious that childhood obesity is a multifactorial vexed question and requires physicians, families, caring adults, and mates of obese children and adolescents to join the ranks in treating what a certain number of are calling an epidemic.--K.E.M.

COPYRIGHT 2004 American Academy of Family Physicians

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