Evaluation of a social cognitive theory-based adolescent physical activity intervention: plan for exercise, plan for health
Year: 2006
Type: article
Abstract: Overweight and obesity place a burden on both the health and the economic status of our country.Overweight and obesity is related to several health problems, including: diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, stroke, heart disease, certain cancers, arthritis, and fair or poor health status (Mokdad, Ford. Bowman, Dietz, Vinicor, Bales et al, 2003).The health care costs directly associated with obesity were estimated to be $70 billion in 1995; the direct costs associated with physical inactivity alone were $24 billion, or 2.4% of US health care expenditures (Colditz, 1999;Grundy, Blackburn, Higgins, Lauer, Perri, & Ryan, 1999).In 1998, medical costs associated with overweight and obesity increased to $78.5 billion (Finkelstein, Fiebelkorn, & Wang, 2003).The development of programs to increase physical activity levels has potential to attenuate the health and economic impact that inactivity places on our nation.A meta-analysis conducted by Jesse A.Berlin and Graham A. Colditz (1990) revealed an association between a lack of physical activity and increased risk of coronary heart disease; this association was stronger when comparing highly active groups with sedentary groups than when comparing moderately active groups with sedentary groups.The study supported a dose-response relationship between physical activity and protection from coronary heart disease.The adoption and maintenance of regular physical activity is modifiable and provides protection from chronic disease, is used in the treatment of overweight and obesity, helps to maintain a positive health status among all populations, and could help to attenuate the direct medical costs associated with obesity and physical inactivity.While the health and economic burden that inactivity places on our nation is well documented particularly among adults, overweight and obesity is also a growing problem among youth in our country.Evidence exists to support the use of physical activity programs to promote health and fitness and to reduce overweight and obesity among youth, as well as to prevent the development of obesity and cardiovascular disease risk as youth transition into adulthood.In 1999-2000, 15% of children and adolescents (ages 6-19) were overweight; this value is triple what the proportion was in 1980 (CDC, Health Topics: Physical Activity, 2004).The most recent Youth Risk Behavioral Surveillance results, reported in 2005, revealed that between 1999 and 2005 a significant linear increase occurred in the percent of high school students who were at risk for becoming overweight (14.4% -15.7%) and who were overweight (10.7% -13.1%)
Author: Emily Stevens
Institution: The Ohio State University
Language: English
Topic: Physical Activity and Health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2531872129