The Dutch 'Focus on Strength' intervention study protocol: programme design and production, implementation and evaluation plan.
Overweight youngsters are better in absolute strength exercises than their normal-weight counterparts; a physiological phenomenon with promising psychological impact. In this paper we describe the study protocol of the Dutch, school-based program 'Focus on Strength' that aims to improve body composition of 11-13 year old students, and with that to ultimately improve their quality of life.



The development of this intervention is based on the Intervention Mapping (IM) protocol, which starts from a needs assessment, uses theory and empirical research to develop a detailed intervention plan, and anticipates program implementation and evaluation. This novel intervention targets first year students in preparatory secondary vocational education (11-13 years of age). Teachers are the program implementers. One part of the intervention involves a 30 % increase of strength exercises in the physical education lessons. The other part is based on Motivational Interviewing, promoting autonomous motivation of students to become more physically active outside school. Performance and change objectives are described for both teachers and students. The effectiveness of the intervention will be tested in a Randomized Controlled Trial in 9 Dutch high schools.



Intervention Mapping is a useful framework for program planning a school-based program to improve body composition and motivation to exercise in 11-13 year old adolescents by a "Focus on Strength".



NTR5676 , registered 8 February 2016 (retrospectively registered).
Department of Human Biology, Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, P.O. Box 616, 6200, MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands. Gill.tenHoor@MaastrichtUniversity.nl.|Department of Work and Social Psychology, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200, MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands. Gill.tenHoor@MaastrichtUniversity.nl.
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GA
Ten Hoor
Department of Work and Social Psychology, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200, MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
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G
Kok
Department of Health Promotion, Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, P.O. Box 616, 6200, MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
G M
GM
Rutten
Department of Work and Social Psychology, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200, MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
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RA
Ruiter
Department of Health Promotion, Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, P.O. Box 616, 6200, MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
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SP
Kremers
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, P.O. Box 616, 6200, MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
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AM
Schols
Department of Human Biology, Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, P.O. Box 616, 6200, MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
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Plasqui
D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D016730:Program Development; D011788:Quality of Life; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012107:Research Design; D012572:School Health Services; D012574:Schools; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*
Intervention mapping; Motivational interviewing; Obesity; Randomized controlled trial; School-based; Social comparison; Strength exercise