Three members of Pro-Change Behavior Systems, Inc. will present at two different Paper Sessions at the Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM) Annual Conference in Montreal, Canada on April 22-25, 2009.
The three presentations are based on a recently completed five year program of research funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). The research was led by Principal Investigator, Dr. Leanne Mauriello to develop and test a multi-media obesity prevention program for adolescents. Health in Motion is a population-based program relevant for all teens that focuses on helping them adopt or maintain physical activity, fruit and vegetable consumption, and limiting television time according to national guidelines. Each of these behaviors is important for leading a healthy lifestyle and preventing overweight and obesity.
At the “It’s All Fun and Games: Multimedia Approaches to LifeStyle Change” Paper Session, Dr. Mauriello will present the 12-month outcomes from the effectiveness trial of Health in Motion. Students (N=1800) from eight high schools participated in the 14- month trial. The program was effective at moving students in the treatment group to action or maintenance for all three behaviors. In addition, the treatment group reported exercising at least 60 minutes on more days and eating more fruits and vegetables at all time points then the control group. Significant group differences were not found for hours of TV per day.
At the “Prevention is Key: Weight Gain Prevention Research” Paper Session, Patricia Castle, M.A., will present on “Multiple Behavior Risk Reduction and Risk Acquisition Results from Adolescent Obesity Prevention Program.” At follow-up, those students in the treatment group reported significantly fewer health risks compared to the control group. Also, among those students with zero health risks at the start of the program, the treatment group reported less acquisition of risks compared to the control group at the end of treatment. These findings highlight the effectiveness and importance of treating multiple risks simultaneously. This paper won the Annual Award of the Multiple Health Behavior Change Special Interest Group of SBM.
Also at this Paper Session, Karen Sherman, B.A., will present on the “Co-variation of Multiple Behavior Change: Synergistic Effects of an Obesity Prevention Program.” Findings demonstrate that progress (movement to Action or Maintenance) on one behavior led to progress on another behavior among treatment but not control group participants. The treatment group exhibited significant co-variation among behaviors at each time point. These results indicate the synergistic effects possible when impacting multiple behaviors.
Janice M. Prochaska, President & CEO of Pro-Change Behavior Systems, Inc. stated, “We are pleased to have the opportunity to share the successful results of this effectiveness trial with members of SBM.”