title: Promotion of physical activity among high-school girls: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Many adolescent girls fail to meet national guidelines for physical activity, and the prevalence of obesity is increasing among this group. Our study examined the effects of a comprehensive school-based intervention on physical activity among high-school girls.
  
  
  METHODS
  A group-randomized controlled field trial was conducted at 24 high schools. A school-based sample of 2744 girls (48.7% African American, 46.7% White) participated in a measurement protocol when they were in eighth and then ninth grade. A comprehensive physical activity intervention was designed to change the instructional program and the school environment to increase support for physical activity among girls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At follow-up, 45% of girls in the intervention schools and 36% of girls in the control schools reported vigorous physical activity during an average of 1 or more 30-minute time blocks per day over a 3-day period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A comprehensive school-based intervention can increase regular participation in vigorous physical activity among high-school girls.
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Science, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, 730 Devine St, Columbia, SC 29208, USA. rpate@gwm.sc.edu
authors.forename: Russell R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Pate
authors.forename: Dianne S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: Ruth P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Saunders
authors.forename: Gwen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Felton
authors.forename: Rod K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Dishman
authors.forename: Marsha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dowda
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology; D004463:Ecology; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D011939:Mental Recall; D009043:Motor Activity; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012944:Social Support; D013022:South Carolina; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology