title: A randomized controlled trial of single versus multiple health behavior change: promoting physical activity and nutrition among adolescents.
abstract: Targeting multiple behaviors for change may provide significant health benefits. This study compared interventions targeting physical activity and nutrition (PAN) concurrently versus physical activity (PA) alone. Adolescents (N=138) were randomized to the PAN or PA intervention or control condition (n=46 per group). Primary outcomes were change in PA accelerometer and 3-day dietary recording from baseline to 3-month follow-up. The PAN and PA interventions were efficacious in supporting boys' (p<.001) but not girls' (p=.663) PA relative to the control condition. Dietary change was minimal. Although the findings do not reveal a decrement to PA promotion when a nutrition intervention was added, neither do they reveal any additional benefit. More studies comparing single versus multibehavioral interventions are needed.
authors.affiliation: Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA. jodijpr@itsa.ucsf.edu
authors.forename: Judith J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Prochaska
authors.forename: James F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Sallis
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires