Evaluation of an exercise intervention for Appalachian high school students: Plan for Exercise, Plan for Health

Theory based interventions to increase regular physical activity among sedentary youth are needed to reduce risk of chronic disease. The purpose of this efficacy trial was to determine the ability of the Plan for Exercise, Plan for Health (PEPH) intervention to increase free-living, physical activity among high school students. The treatment group physical education teachers (N=13) delivered the PEPH curriculum one day per week for nine weeks to 925 students. The comparison group teachers (n=6) delivered a sports based curriculum to 420 students. All schools were located in the Appalachian region of Ohio. A 2x2 Mixed Group Factorial ANOVA were conducted to determine the differences between groups, across time, and interactions between group and time for PA, social support, self-efficacy, outcome expectancy-values, and self-regulation. Students in the intervention group increased social support (F (1,405) = 4.56, p<0.05) and self-regulation (F (1,378) = 5.57, p<0.05). Sedentary subjects demonstrated an increase days of moderate (0.32 days at pretest to 1.98 Days at posttest, p<0.01) and vigorous PA (0.22 days at pretest to 1.83 days at posttest, p<0.01). A theory based, behavioral unit on self-regulated physical activity can increase rates of free-living physical activity among adolescents. This effect was greater for previously sedentary adolescents.