Search
Now showing items 1-1 of 1
Implementation of a Mentor Led Physical Activity Program among Disadvantaged Youth
(2016-10-11)
Physical activity is an integral part of the war on pediatric obesity. Pediatric obesity is a worldwide epidemic affecting children of all races, classes, and gender. According to the Ohio Youth Risk Behavior Survey of 2013 over one third of Ohio children in grades nine through twelve were considered overweight or obese and engage in more than three hours of screen time, television, computers or video games daily. The purposes of this project was to introduce physical activity in the classroom environment in the form of physical activity breaks, led by physical activity leaders (PALs) to achieve improved BMI category, increase grade point average (GPA), and increase physical activity (measured by PACE score) of high school students in health class. The Larrabee’s Model for Evidence Based Practice Change was used to guide the planning, implementation, and evaluation of this evidence based project. The intervention was delivered to an inner city high school in West Central Ohio. Two health teachers and the project coordinator were enrolled and trained in Let’s Move Active Schools curriculum and served as PALs. The PALs designed physical activities and introduced physical actives in the classroom in the form of physical activity breaks for ten minutes. Thirty eight freshman students in health class completed 8-week program. Results showed that there were significant differences in GPA and PACE score however there was no significant difference in body weight status due to short time frame of project. Project results will be disseminated to school administration with anticipation of inclusion of physical activity breaks for every classroom for the remainder of the school year and beyond.
>...