title: Assessing the sustained impact of a school-based obesity prevention program for adolescent boys: the ATLAS cluster randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obesity prevention interventions targeting 'at-risk' adolescents are urgently needed. The aim of this study is to evaluate the sustained impact of the 'Active Teen Leaders Avoiding Screen-time' (ATLAS) obesity prevention program.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cluster RCT in 14 secondary schools in low-income communities of New South Wales, Australia. Participants were 361 adolescent boys (aged 12-14 years) 'at risk' of obesity. The intervention was based on Self-Determination Theory and Social Cognitive Theory and involved: professional development, fitness equipment for schools, teacher-delivered physical activity sessions, lunch-time activity sessions, researcher-led seminars, a smartphone application, and parental strategies. Assessments for the primary (body mass index [BMI], waist circumference) and secondary outcomes were conducted at baseline, 8- (post-intervention) and 18-months (follow-up). Analyses followed the intention-to-treat principle using linear mixed models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 18-months, there were no intervention effects for BMI or waist circumference. Sustained effects were found for screen-time, resistance training skill competency, and motivational regulations for school sport.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There were no clinically meaningful intervention effects for the adiposity outcomes. However, the intervention resulted in sustained effects for secondary outcomes. Interventions that more intensively target the home environment, as well as other socio-ecological determinants of obesity may be needed to prevent unhealthy weight gain in adolescents from low-income communities.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Australian Clinical Trial Registry ACTRN12612000978864.
authors.affiliation: Priority Research Centre in Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Education, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia. David.Lubans@newcastle.edu.au.
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Lubans
authors.affiliation: Priority Research Centre in Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Education, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Jordan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Priority Research Centre in Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Education, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Ronald C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Plotnikoff
authors.affiliation: Priority Research Centre in Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Education, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Kerry A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Dally
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Educational Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Anthony D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Okely
authors.affiliation: Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Jo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Salmon
authors.affiliation: Priority Research Centre in Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Education, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Philip J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Morgan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D015444:Exercise; D005178:Faculty; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D063731:Mobile Applications; D009042:Motivation; D009517:New South Wales; D010290:Parents; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011203:Poverty; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D055070:Resistance Training; D012572:School Health Services; D012574:Schools; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D013177:Sports
keywords: Behavior; Disadvantaged; Fitness; Intervention; Resistance training