ARS | Publication request: Effectiveness of a summer healthy lifestyle program for promoting moderate-vigorous activity in minority girls

Submitted to: Medicine and Science in Exercise and Sports
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: April 1, 2008
Publication Date: May 1, 2008
Citation: Graham, M., Mcleod, J., Scherer, R., Hall, K., Bush, J.A., Butte, N.F., Olvera, N. 2008. Effectiveness of a summer healthy lifestyle program for promoting moderate-vigorous activity in minority girls [abstract]. Medicine and Science in Exercise and Sports. 40(5):S95-S96(Suppl. 1).

Technical Abstract: Current physical activity guidelines recommend that children engage in at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity each day. However, there is little research on what types of activities are most effective for facilitating this amount of activity. To assess which physical activities elicited the greatest proportion of moderate to vigorous activity in overweight, minority girls, 37 overweight (BMI > 85th percentile), preadolescent (10.3 +/- 1.2y), Hispanic and African American girls participated in a 3-wk summer program. The curriculum incorporated yoga, Pilates, ballet, cheerleading, dance, badminton, tennis, basketball, soccer, self defense, step aerobics, walking, spinning, circuit training, and fun games. All participants wore an Actical accelerometer each day from the beginning to the end of the program to quantify the amount, duration, and intensity of each activity. Number of activity counts per minute was recorded. Moderate activity was defined as at least 1500 activity counts per minute. The proportion of total activity time spent in moderate to vigorous activity (number of minutes at or above 1500 counts per minute divided by total time in each activity) was calculated for each physical activity employed. The average percent of total activity time at or above 1500 activity counts ranged from 1% (yoga) to 42% (step aerobics). Traditional aerobic fitness classes [step aerobics (42%), spinning combined with circuit training (37%), and circuit training alone (32%)] yielded the greatest proportion of moderate to vigorous activity, followed by dancing [Salsa (32%), Rumba (29%), and Hip Hop (27%)]. Overall, participants averaged approximately 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily, and the amount of moderate to vigorous activity increased significantly (p < 0.05) each week (wk 1=60 min, wk 2 = 70 min, wk 3 = 75 min). The activities generating the most moderate to vigorous physical activity in this population were traditional aerobic fitness classes and dancing, while yoga and Pilates were least effective. This information may be useful for promoting the recommended amount of moderate to vigorous activity in preadolescent minority girls.