Evaluation of a school-based multicomponent behavioural intervention in deprived urban areas for children classified as overweight, obese or at risk for overweight.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the effect of an after-school group-based medium-intensity multicomponent behavioural intervention programme for children aged 8-12 years classified as overweight, obese or at risk for overweight on body mass index standard deviation score (BMI SDS). In accordance with standardized protocols body weight and height were measured in 195 participants (88 boys, 107 girls) at baseline and at the end of the programme. A total of 166 children derived from a school-based monitoring system served as control group. Multivariate regression analyses examined the effect of the intervention and the independent factors associated with better outcomes in the intervention group. RESULTS: Analysis of covariance showed a significant intervention effect on BMI SDS in favour of the intervention group (b-coefficient - 0.13 ± 0.03; p < 0.01) compared with the control group. Change in BMI SDS between baseline and follow-up in the intervention group was associated with baseline age (b-coefficient 0.03 ± 0.02; p = 0.04) but was independent from gender, ethnicity, baseline BMI SDS, time between baseline and follow-up, school year and attendance rate.

Understanding Vocational Students' Motivation for Dietary and Physical Activity Behaviors.

Unhealthy eating behaviors and low levels of physical activity are major problems in adolescents and young adults in vocational education. To develop effective intervention programs, more research is needed to understand how different types of motivation contribute to health behaviors. In the present study, Self-Determination Theory is used to examine how motivation contributes to dietary and physical activity behaviors in vocational students. This cross-sectional study included 809 students (mean age 17.8 ± 1.9 years) attending vocational education in the Netherlands. Linear multilevel regression analyses were used to investigate the association between types of motivation and dietary and physical activity behaviors. Amotivation was negatively associated with breakfast frequency and positively associated with diet soda consumption and high-calorie between-meal snacks. A positive association was found between autonomous motivation and water intake, breakfast frequency, fruit intake, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Autonomous motivation was negatively associated with the consumption of unhealthy products. Controlled motivation was not associated with physical activity or dietary behaviors. Different types of motivation seem to explain either healthy or unhealthy dietary behaviors in vocational students. Autonomous motivation, in particular, was shown to be associated with healthy behaviors and could therefore be a valuable intervention target.

Stages of change for moderate-intensity physical activity in deprived neighborhoods.

BACKGROUND: This article describes the association of external and psychosocial factors with the stages of change for moderate-intensity physical activity among individuals with generally low socioeconomic positions. METHODS: A self-administered questionnaire among individuals aged 18-65 years (response rate 60%, n = 2781) in deprived neighborhoods in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, was conducted in September 2000. To identify factors associated with stages of change an ordinal logistic regression model, the "Threshold of Change model (TCM)", was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Thirty-six percent of the respondents were in the pre-action stages, 15% was in action and 49% in maintenance. Individuals who were, older, lower educated, had low health locus of control, had less knowledge of physical activity issues, and presented other risky health behaviors, were more likely to be in a lower stage of change category. A positive attitude, high self-efficacy expectations, perceiving the physical activity level of others as high, and much social support were associated with the higher stages of change categories. CONCLUSION: The distribution across the stages of change supports the need to improve physical activity behavior in these deprived neighborhoods. Interventions need to be tailored to the psychosocial, and the external factors that are likely to play a role in the behavioral change process.

Impact evaluation of a Dutch community intervention to improve health-related behaviour in deprived neighbourhoods.

This study investigates the impact of a 2-year community intervention on health-related behaviour among adults aged 18-65 years living in deprived neighbourhoods in Eindhoven, The Netherlands. The intervention is evaluated in a community intervention trial with a quasi-experimental design in a longitudinal cohort survey (n=1926 and attrition rate: 31%) using postal questionnaires. In the 2-year implementation phase, more than 40 intervention activities were planned and delivered by intersectoral neighbourhood coalitions. Outcome measures were fruit consumption, vegetable consumption, physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption and intermediate outcomes of behaviour (i.e. attitudes, self-efficacy, awareness, knowledge and stages of change). The intervention demonstrated no evidence for an impact on vegetable consumption, physical activity, smoking and alcohol consumption and weak evidence for a small impact on (intermediate) outcomes of fruit consumption.

Stages of change for fruit and vegetable consumption in deprived neighborhoods.

This article describes the association of external and psychosocial factors on the stages of change for fruit and vegetable consumption, among 2,781 inhabitants, aged 18 to 65 years, in deprived neighborhoods (response rate 60%). To identify correlates of forward stage transition, an ordinal logistic regression model, the Threshold of Change Model (TCM), was used to analyze the data. The results indicate that men, those from Dutch origin, those with (rather) low health locus of control, those displaying risk behaviors, and those without knowledge of dietary guidelines were less likely to move from one stage to another and therefore were more likely to be in a lower stage-of-change category. The results make it possible to distinguish target groups, which should receive more attention in future health promotion campaigns, and to identify factors to be addressed in those programs.