With more than 1.5 million middle school-age girls in America overweight or at risk of becoming overweight, a Michigan State University (MSU) nursing researcher 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 the College of Nursing. Her study is being funded by the National Institutes of Health.
She will focus on two middle schools in the Lansing School District, using 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 said. “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.
Source: MSU
Gretchen Cochran, Innovation & Jobs editor, may be reached here.
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