Promoting Cooking, Nutrition, and Physical Activity in Afterschool Settings

Abstract

Objective: In this study, we evaluated the afterschool PAWS (Peer-education About Weight Steadiness) Club program delivered by peer or adult educators to improve food choices, physical activity, and psychosocial variables related to healthy eating. Methods: We had 109 adolescents (53 in adult-led group; 56 in peer-led group) participate in a cluster randomized controlled intervention. The 12-session curriculum framed within Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) and Stages of Change addressed mediators of behavior change related to cooking skills, food intake, and physical activity. Anthropometric, dietary intake, physical activity, and SCT mediators were assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and 6-months post-intervention. Results: Adolescents in the peer-led group significantly improved whole grain intake at post-intervention (p = .017) and 6-months post-intervention (p = .014). Both peer-led and adult-led groups had significant reductions in caloric intake at 6-months post-intervention (p = .047). Only the adult-led group improved self-efficacy (SE) and social/family support (SS) for healthy eating at post-intervention [p = .019 (SE); p = .048 (SS)] and 6-months post-intervention [p = .036 (SE); p = .022 (SS)]. Conclusions: The PAWS Club program promoted lower caloric intake by adolescents. Peer educators were effective at increasing whole grains in adolescents, and adult educators contributed to positive changes in SE and SS related to healthy eating.

Transtheoretical model-based nutritional interventions in adolescents: a systematic review

“…Both of these articles were analyzed with the other studies on the same intervention [19,30]. After the updated search, four more papers were included [17,22,25,31], totaling 17 articles and 14 interventions. All but two of the studies received funding [22,25], although this was not considered a potential added bias.…”

“…Five interventions were classi ed as weak [17,23,28,29,31], six as moderate [22,24,25,26,27,33] and three as strong [18,20,32]. Most of the studies were rated as weak due to having a non-representative sample [17,23,28,29] and because blinding was not mentioned in the paper [28,29].…”

“…The sample sizes varied from 16 to 2983 participants. A total of eight randomized controlled trials [17,18,26,28,29,31,32,33] and six quasi-experimental studies [20,22,23,24,25,27] were included. All but six of the studies had at least two follow-up measurements [18,22,25,29,31,33].…”

“…A total of eight randomized controlled trials [17,18,26,28,29,31,32,33] and six quasi-experimental studies [20,22,23,24,25,27] were included. All but six of the studies had at least two follow-up measurements [18,22,25,29,31,33]. The study duration (including pre-test and post-test measurements) ranged from one month to three years, with many lasting six months or more [18,22,26,27,28,29,32,33].…”

“…Two interventions mailed printed materials, such as magazines, letters to families and newsletters [25,32]. Most of the interventions occurred at schools facilities [18,23,24,25,26,27,29,31,32]. Some studies involved dietary assessment methods, such as food frequency questionnaires, 3-day food records, self-reported consumption and food diary [20,23,24,31,32].…”