With more than 1.5 million middle school-age girls in America overweight or at risk of becoming overweight, a Michigan State University nursing researcher in East Lansing, Mich., has been awarded $400,000 to help girls increase their physical activity and improve other health-related behaviors.

“One major reason underlying this serious health problem is a lack of adequate moderate to vigorous physical activity among pre-teen and teenage girls,” says Lorraine Robbins of MSU’s College of Nursing, whose study “Middle School Physical Activity Intervention for Girls” is being funded by the National Institutes of Health.

The study will focus on two middle schools in the Lansing School District. The intervention consists of individually tailored motivational counseling combined with an after-school physical activity club. About 70 girls in the sixth and seventh grades that do not meet physical activity recommendations will participate.

“Research I have conducted clearly indicates girls are interested in participating in an after-school program that involves physical activity,” Robbins says. “Girls also report needing someone to talk to about their feelings related to physical activity – a person who can regularly motivate them.”

Robbins became interested in the topic after observing low physical activity levels at her daughter’s elementary school recess. She then had difficulty finding a community-sponsored sports team that involved young girls who were interested in competition. With no other options, her daughter joined a boys’ soccer team, which did not help her daughter connect socially with other girls her age.

Karin Pfeiffer, assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology in MSU’s College of Education, is the co-investigator on the project and one of several MSU researchers taking part.

“I expect that the extensive interdisciplinary knowledge and expertise involved in this study will ensure a comprehensive understanding of the acceptability, feasibility and effectiveness of this intervention,” Robbins says. “We look forward to improving the health of middle school girls in the Lansing community.”

Source: Michigan State University