PACE+: Counseling Adolescents for Exercise and Nutrition
An Evidence-Based Practice
Description
Many adolescents do not meet national guidelines for participation in regular moderate or vigorous physical activity; limitations on sedentary behaviors; or dietary intake of fruits and vegetables, fiber, or total dietary fat. PACE+ for adolescents targets these behaviors through a primary care and home-based intervention. Adolescents meet with a health care provider, set goals and are followed by computer-assisted diet and physical activity assessment. Participants also receive 12 months of monthly mail and telephone counseling. Phone counseling and print materials guide adolescents to use cognitive and behavioral skills to make changes in behaviors.
Goal / Mission
The goal of PACE+ for adolescents is to: decrease total dietary fat consumption; increase fruits & vegetable consumption; increase participation in moderate and vigorous physical activity; decrease sedentary habits among adolescents aged 11-15.
Results / Accomplishments
Results from the randomized controlled trial on the PACE+ intervention showed that girls and boys in the diet and physical activity intervention group significantly reduced sedentary behaviors. Girls in the intervention group reduced sedentary behaviors from 4.3 to 3.4 hours per day while girls in the control group changed from 4.2 to 4.4 hours per day (p=0.001). Boys in the intervention reduced sedentary behavior from 4.2 to 3.2 hours per day while boys in the control group changed from 4.2 to 4.3 hours per day (p=0.001). The number of servings of fruits and vegetables for girls approached significance (intervention 3.5 to 4.2 servings per day vs. control 3.5 to 3.9 servings per day [p=0.07]). The percentage of adolescents meeting recommended health guidelines was significantly improved for girls for consumption of saturated fat (intervention 23.4% to 41.0% vs. control 18.5% to 31%, [relative risk = 1.33; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.68]).
About this Promising Practice
Organization(s)
Patient-centered Assessment and Counseling for Exercise plus Nutrition (PACE+) Project
Primary Contact
Topics
Health / Physical Activity
Health / Adolescent Health
Health / Adolescent Health
Organization(s)
Patient-centered Assessment and Counseling for Exercise plus Nutrition (PACE+) Project
Source
San Diego Center for Health Interventions, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Location
California
For more details
Target Audience
Teens, Families