VERB Summer Scorecard: Increasing Physical Activity Among Female Adolescents

Introduction: Females are at greater risk of inadequate physical activity levels. Community-based physical activity interventions, such as VERBTM Summer Scorecard, may be capable of increasing physical activity levels among females. The purpose of this study was to examine how changes across time in female's physical activity levels can be accounted by VERBTM Summer Scorecard. Methods: Survey data gathered from females in 2004, 2006, and 2007 were used to examine trends in physical activity across time and potential intervention effects on female physical activity. Cumulative logit models were employed to analyze the trend of physical activity in three groups of females: participants (i.e., those who completed a Scorecard), refusers (i.e., those who received a Scorecard but did not complete it), and the reference groups (i.e., those who had never heard of program). Results: Results demonstrated that intervention effects increased over time among females. In 2004, female participants had higher activity levels then the reference group. In 2006, the only increase is in the no exercise category to the low category. In 2007, there is an increase of every activity level in the female participants group compared to the reference students. Conclusions: This study illustrates how VERB Summer Scorecard, a community-based intervention, accounts for the trend in females' physical activity levels from the years 2004, 2006, and 2007. The results indicate VSS was a success in increasing the PA levels in girls who participated over time. This information illustrates how interventions executed long-term can result in more favorable outcomes overall.