A Community-Based Physical Education and Activity Intervention for African American Preadolescent Girls: A Strategy to Reduce Racial Disparities in Health

Abstract

Physical activity habits fostered and developed early in life tend to persist into adulthood, reducing the incidence of chronic diseases associated with a sedentary lifestyle in later life. This is of particular importance for racial and ethnic minority populations who experience significant disparities in rates of chronic disease. Thus, promoting physical activity in minority children is an effective strategy for reducing these health disparities. Unfortunately, however, recommendations for effective implementation of such programs are sorely lacking. This article describes the development and implementation of Lively Ladies, a physical education and activity intervention targeted to low-income, preadolescent, African American girls in a community-based youth services organization. Low-income, minority girls face the catch-22 situation of being at higher risk for physical inactivity while having limited or no access to physical fitness programs. This article demonstrates that community-based youth organizations can play an important role in changing this situation. The authors’ experience with Lively Ladies indicates the effectiveness of a theory-based program addressing modifiable psychosocial and environmental determinants of behavior. They provide recommendations to guide future design and implementation of community-based physical education and activity interventions for a population group that tends to have increased risk for physical inactivity and limited access to fitness programs and facilities.