A Skills-based RCT for Physical Activity Using Peer Mentors

The goal of this study is to positively impact the physical activity patterns to improve
health outcomes including the high rates of obesity in Appalachian teens. The approach will
train peer mentors to deliver the culturally appropriate intervention and provide social
support that is critical for facilitating and sustaining health behavior change. The primary
objective is to compare the efficacy of an innovative healthy lifestyle skills mentoring
program (Mentored Planning to be Active [MBA]) to a teacher led program (PBA) for increasing
physical activity in Appalachian high school teens. MBA emphasizes the social determinants of
health by using a social networking approach that trains peer mentors to support targeted
teens. Refined over the course of 3 studies,2-4 PBA is a ten-lesson unit delivered over 10
weeks and designed to teach self-regulation of physical activity among teens. Expanding PBA
to mentors via MBA has the potential to promote and sustain adoption of daily regular
physical activity through self-regulation of physical activity in discretionary time. With
MBA delivery, physical activity is tailored to personal interests, talents, and neighborhood
environment. MBA empowers students to plan and evaluate their own personal activity plan. It
is predicted that by serving as role models, peer mentors will improve their own lifestyle
behaviors, providing a double-edged intervention. It is also predicted that providing intense
and structured social support to teens via peer mentors will result in better health outcomes
compared to teacher-based support alone (usual care). The plan is to conduct a group
randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effects of a culturally and theoretically based
behavioral intervention delivered by peer mentors (MBA) on adolescent healthy behaviors
(daily physical activity, regular exercise, and sedentary behaviors) and physical health
outcomes (BMI, body fat) compared to PBA delivered in a classroom setting by a teacher.

Inclusion Criteria:

- 9th or 10th grade students as participants

- 11th or 12th grade students as mentors

- Classroom teachers who instruct health education or physical education to 9th and 10th
grade students.

- Not expected to move from school prior to conclusion of study

- Speaks English

Exclusion Criteria:

- Peer mentors with a BMI (for age and gender) above the 85th percentile or below the
5th percentile at the start of the study