title: Results of the "Active by Choice Today" (ACT) randomized trial for increasing physical activity in low-income and minority adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study reports the results of the "Active by Choice Today" (ACT) trial for increasing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in low-income and minority adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  The ACT program was a randomized controlled school-based trial testing the efficacy of a motivational plus behavioral skills intervention on increasing MVPA in underserved adolescents. Twenty-four middle schools were matched on school size, percentage minorities, percentage free or reduce lunch, and urban or rural setting before randomization. A total of 1,563 6th grade students (mean age, 11.3 years, 73% African American, 71% free or reduced lunch, 55% female) participated in either a 17-week (over one academic year) intervention or comparison after-school program.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary outcome measure was MVPA based on 7-day accelerometry estimates at 2-weeks postintervention and an intermediate outcome was MVPA at midintervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At midintervention students in the intervention condition engaged in 4.87 greater minutes of MVPA per day (95% CI: 1.18 to 8.57) than control students. Students in intervention schools engaged in 9.11 min (95% CI: 5.73 to 12.48) more of MVPA per day than those in control schools during the program time periods; indicating a 27 min per week increase in MVPA. No significant effect of the ACT intervention was found outside of school times or for MVPA at 2-weeks postintervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Motivational and behavioral skills programs are effective at increasing MVPA in low-income and minority adolescents during program hours, but further research is needed to address home barriers to youth MVPA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA. wilsondk@mailbox.sc.edu
authors.forename: Dawn K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: M Lee
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Van Horn
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kitzman-Ulrich
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saunders
authors.forename: Russell
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pate
authors.forename: Hannah G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Lawman
authors.forename: Brent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hutto
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zarrett
authors.forename: Cheryl L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Addy
authors.forename: Leslie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mansard
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mixon
authors.forename: Porschia V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D001521:Behavior Therapy; D002648:Child; D002755:Choice Behavior; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000523:psychology*; D009042:Motivation; D009043:Motor Activity; D011203:Poverty / Q000523:psychology*; D012931:Social Environment