Effects of the Youth Fit for Life protocol on physiological, psychological, and behavioral factors at YMCA Calgary after-school care sites.
Youth inactivity and inappropriately high weight is a problem in the United States, Canada, and much of the industrialized world. Physiological and behavioral changes associated with the Youth Fit For Life protocol, a physical activity and nutrition education treatment based on self-efficacy theory, were assessed in 7- to 12-yr.-olds (N - 43) from Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Body Mass Index, strength, and cardiorespiratory endurance significantly improved over a 12-wk. period when contrasted with changes based on normative data. Significant within-group improvements in measures of self-efficacy, vegetable intake, and voluntary moderate-to-vigorous physical activity were also found over 12 wk. Multiple regression analysis indicated that score changes in measures of self-regulatory and task self-efficacy, and general self, accounted for changes in voluntary physical activity. Implications for use of behaviorally based methods for large-scale obesity prevention treatments in preadolescents were discussed.
Annesi
James J
JJ
YMCA of Metropolitan Atlanta, 100 Edgewood Avenue N.E., Suite 1100, Atlanta, GA, USA. jamesa@ymcaatlanta.org
Tennant
Gisèle
G
Westcott
Wayne L
WL
Faigenbaum
Avery D
AD
Smith
Alice E
AE
D001823:Body Composition; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002170:Canada; D002648:Child; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D009043:Motor Activity; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012572:School Health Services; D012574:Schools; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires