Promoting Physical Activity and Preventing Obesity in Economically Disadvantaged Schools: The Physical Activity Leaders Program for Adolescent Boys

The study will assess changes in physical activity and health-related fitness over a 6-month period. The study will evaluate the Physical Activity Leaders (PALs) program, which is a school-based physical activity intervention for low-active adolescent boys in economically disadvantaged secondary schools. The program will provide students with an opportunity to increase their knowledge, skills and attitudes toward physical activity and nutrition. The PALs program was developed in reference to Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory and the program will target the following mediators of behaviour change: self-efficacy, social support and self-monitoring. The intervention will include the following components: 1) Health-related fitness activities - the physical activity sessions will focus on resistance training and circuit training using elastic tubing resistance training devices. 2) Interactive seminars - the seminars will focus on strategies to promote physical activity and healthy eating, training principles and fitness programming. A summary of the key messages to be reinforced in the physical activity sessions and interactive seminars are listed below: a) Monitor your physical activity, fitness, and nutrition levels b) Use training principles to set goals for physical activity and fitness c) Reduce your time spent watching television, using the computer and playing electronic games immediately after school d) Provide physical activity social support for your family and friends e) Keep track of fruit and vegetable intake (using goals/diary) and aim for 2 pieces of fruit and 5 servings of vegetables each day f) Drink more water and swap sugary drinks for diet drinks g) Consider your portion sizes and eat at the dinner table h) Reduce your junk food snacks Total number of sessions are provided below: 1) 8 x 90 minute sessions focusing on health-related fitness activities. These will be delivered during school sport (Term 3). 2) 8 x 30 minute sessions focusing on enjoyable physical activities. These will occur during lunch-time (Term 3). 3) 3 x 40 minute interactive seminars focusing on physical activity and nutrition and fitness leadership delivered during school sport or at lunch-time (start of Term 3, end of Term 3 and end of Term 4). 4) 6 x 30 minute physical activity mentoring sessions working with year 7 boys. Mentoring will take place during lunch-time (Term 4).