Nutrition & Physical Activity

Physical Activity and Weight Concerns in Early Adolescent Girls
Principal Investigator: Dr. Donna Spruijt-Metz

This is an in-depth study of the determinants of physical activity in adolescent girls as well as an investigation of the mechanisms that link physical activity to various outcomes. The specific aims are:

• To examine the differential effects of culture and development on physical activity, the determinants of physical activity and the psychosocial outcomes of physical activity in adolescent girls.
• To examine how physical activity behavior in early adolescent girls is influenced by how girls interpret the meaning or function of that behavior. In addition we will examine how physical activity impacts outcomes and behaviors in girls’ lives including body image, self-concept, dietary choices, weight concerns, smoking, worries and depression.
• To develop a methodology to use meanings of physical activity behavior to design, implement and evaluate an effective intervention for adolescent girls. Our hypothesis is that levels of physical activity can be increased through simple interventions aimed at changing meanings of behavior, or how girls interpret physical activity and sedentary behavior.

Funding is from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).

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