Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #100503

Rita DiGioacchino DeBate, PhD, MPH, CHES, Community and Environmental Health, Old Dominion University, 104 C Spong Hall, Norfolk, VA 23529, 757-683-6180, rdebate@odu.edu and Sharon H. Thompson, EdD, CHES, Health Promotion Program, College of Education, Coastal Carolina University, PO Box 261954, Conway, SC 29526.

Early adolescence is a difficult transition for girls, one that also marks an increase in weight control behaviors. As society encourages our children to become more physically active as to reap the positive effects, prevention specialists must also provide programs that address the development of the many identified risks such as eating disorders. A sport-training program supplemented with a wellness curriculum may be an effective primary prevention program for obesity and eating disorders. A formative evaluation of a curriculum-based running program geared for girls 8-12 years old (n=322) was implemented to assess influences regarding psychological risk factors leading to disordered eating among girls who participate in sports. Utilizing a cross-sectional pretest/posttest study design, researchers administered questionnaires in pre-program session T(1), and post-program T(2). Statistical tests on self-esteem (t=-10.628, p<.05), body size satisfaction (t=4.359, p<.05), and eating attitudes/behaviors (t=4.806, p<.05) revealed statistically significant improvements from baseline to post program. A sport-training program supplemented with a wellness curriculum may be an effective primary prevention program for overweight and disordered eating behaviors.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to

• Describe the components of the Girls on the Run curriculum-based physical activity program
• Describe the findings as they pertain to mediators of physcial activity
• Discuss implications with regard to school curriculum based physical activity programs

Keywords: Adolescent Health, Physical Activity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.