Coronary disease risk factor reduction and behavior modification in minority adolescents: the PATH program.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the impact of a unique school-based program of exercise, health education, and behavior modification on health knowledge, health behaviors, coronary risk factors, and cardiovascular fitness in minority adolescents.


METHODS
A total of 346 students from an inner-city public high school participated in health promotion intervention or regular physical education volleyball classes. Subjects were African-American (47%), Asian-American (9%), Hispanic (21%), white (3%), and other (19%). The health promotion curriculum consisted of 11 weeks of daily circuit training exercise and health lecture-discussions.


RESULTS
The groups were similar in age, height, weight, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Following intervention both boys (P < .001) and girls (P < .006) significantly improved health knowledge test scores. Significant benefits for girls included improved dietary habits (P < .05), reduced cholesterol (P < .004), and higher estimated V(O2)max (P < .0001). There were no other significant changes in boys.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that a school-based health promotion program of exercise and health lecture-discussion is beneficial for multiethnic, inner-city adolescents, especially females.
Fardy
P S
PS
Department of Health and Physical Education, Queens College, City University of New York, NY, USA.
White
R E
RE
Haltiwanger-Schmitz
K
K
Magel
J R
JR
McDermott
K J
KJ
Clark
L T
LT
Hurster
M M
MM
D000293:Adolescent; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003479:Curriculum; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008913:Minority Groups; D009519:New York City; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012307:Risk Factors; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires