Author

Malorie Blake

Date Approved

2009

Degree Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department or School

Health Sciences

Committee Member

Anahita Mistry, PhD,Chair

Committee Member

Judith Brooks, PhD, RD

Committee Member

Nadine Wolf, MS, RD

Abstract

The Nutricise 4 Life Program (N4L) is a school-based physical activity and nutrition education program for adolescents. It was hypothesized that dietary intake, nutrition knowledge, fitness assessment measurements and motivation/confidence to make healthier lifestyle choices would be improved in students participating in the N4L group compared to a control group. Twenty-eight students in 10th to 12th grade from 2 high schools in Pennsylvania participated. This quasi-experimental trial collected data over 19 weeks to assess program impact on dietary intake, nutrition knowledge, fitness assessment measurements, and motivation/confidence levels. The N4L group saw no improvements in dietary intake. Students in the intervention group demonstrated significant increases in nutrition knowledge. Likewise, body fat percentage was decreased in the intervention group. Participants perceived a positive program impact on their physical activity and eating patterns. The

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