Healthy active living: a residence community-based intervention to increase physical activity and healthy eating during the transition to first-year university.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effects of a Healthy Active Living (HAL) community intervention on moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), fruit and vegetable consumption (FVC), and psychosocial mediators of physical activity among students transitioning into university.


METHODS
Sixty undergraduate students were assigned to reside in either the HAL community or no-treatment control residence and completed questionnaire measures at the beginning and end of the academic year.


RESULTS
Students living in the HAL community reported significantly more MVPA (F[1, 58]=19.93, p<.001, ηp2=.26) and greater FVC (F[1, 56]=3.12, p=.08, ηp2=.05) compared with controls. Participants in the HAL condition also scored significantly higher in action planning (F[1, 58]=4.79, p<.05, ηp2=.08), partially mediating the effect of the intervention on MVPA.


CONCLUSIONS
A peer-delivered healthy lifestyles intervention targeting first-year university students appears to be effective in preserving or enhancing health behaviors and cognitions during their transition into university life.
a Department of Kinesiology , McMaster University , Hamilton , Ontario , Canada.
Denver M Y
DM
Brown
Steve R
SR
Bray
Kevin R
KR
Beatty
Matthew Y W
MY
Kwan
D000293:Adolescent; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000502:physiology; D010379:Peer Group; D010934:Planning Techniques; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D013333:Student Health Services / Q000379:methods*; D013334:Students; D014495:Universities; D014675:Vegetables
action planning; exercise; fruit and vegetable consumption; mediation