ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of a unique school-based program of exercise, health education, and behavior modification on health knowledge, health behaviors, coronary risk factors, and cardiovascular fitness in minority adolescents. METHODS: A total of 346 students from an inner-city public high school participated in health promotion intervention or regular physical education volleyball classes. Subjects were African-American (47%), Asian-American (9%), Hispanic (21%), white (3%), and other (19%). The health promotion curriculum consisted of 11 weeks of daily circuit training exercise and health lecture-discussions. RESULTS: The groups were similar in age, height, weight, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Following intervention both boys (P < .001) and girls (P < .006) significantly improved health knowledge test scores. Significant benefits for girls included improved dietary habits (P < .05), reduced cholesterol (P < .004), and higher estimated V(O2)max (P < .0001). There were no other significant changes in boys. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that a school-based health promotion program of exercise and health lecture-discussion is beneficial for multiethnic, inner-city adolescents, especially females.
Subject(s)
Coronary Disease/prevention & control , Health Behavior , Health Promotion/organization & administration , Minority Groups , School Health Services/organization & administration , Adolescent , Curriculum , Female , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Humans , Longitudinal Studies , Male , New York City , Program Evaluation , Risk Factors , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The purpose was to evaluate the effects of a health promotion curriculum on health knowledge, behavior, cardiovascular fitness, and cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS: A multi-ethnic, multi-cultural sample (n = 54) of 10th grade males and females participated in a study of cardiovascular health promotion and coronary risk factor reduction. The sample was comprised of Asian-Americans (39%), blacks (33%), Hispanics (11%), whites (2%), and others (15%). Intervention consisted of a 10-week health promotion curriculum of classroom education modules in physical activity, nutrition, smoking cessation, stress management and personal problem solving, and an exercise program of walking and running. A nonintervention control group served as a basis for comparison. Classroom and exercise sessions met on alternate days. RESULTS: Following intervention, a significant treatment effect (P = .007) was observed in lowered total cholesterol, and significant within group improvements (P < .01) were observed in diet habits, percent body fat, and cardiovascular health knowledge. Comparisons of knowledge and social effects revealed higher cardiovascular health knowledge (P < .05) in subjects of nonsmoking compared to smoking parents, higher self-perception of health (P < .01) in more active vs less active subjects and better dietary habits (P < .07) in children whose parents were college educated compared to parents who did not attend college. CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary findings suggest that a health promotion curriculum consisting of health education, behavior modification, and regular aerobic exercise lowers cholesterol, improves health behavior and increases health knowledge.
