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Peer Education Initially Helps Prevent Weight Changes in Freshman Women
Author(s) -
Guest Dolores Doane,
Thorpe Matthew P,
Mojtahedi Mina C,
Richey Abby,
Mailey Emily,
Kedem Leia E,
McAuley Edward,
ChapmanNovakofski Karen,
Evans Ellen M
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.24.1_supplement.564.10
Subject(s) - intervention (counseling) , residence , medicine , weight management , gerontology , peer support , weight gain , demography , physical activity , randomized controlled trial , peer education , weight change , weight loss , psychology , obesity , physical therapy , body weight , health education , public health , nursing , sociology
Adjustment to living on a college campus contributes to increases in weight, known as the “Freshman 15”, presumably due in part to changes in energy intake and physical activity level. The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of an 8‐week self‐efficacy based peer education program targeting both nutrition and physical activity behaviors to enhance weight management in freshman females over the first year on campus (PEER: N=65; 18.0±0.13 yr) compared to a control group (CON: N=63; 18.0±0.09 yr). Participants were clustered according to residence hall to avoid contamination effects, matched on race and BMI and subsequently the cluster pairs were randomized to PEER or CON. Weight status measures included weight and circumferences of the hip (HC) and waist (WC). PEER resulted in a benefit to weight change expressed as percent change from baseline after the 8 wk intervention (1.3% difference, p=0.078) with the effect diminishing by the end of the academic year (p=0.32). PEER also benefited HC (1.7%, p<0.01) and WC (1.7%, p=0.03) post 8 wk intervention; however, these effects were also not evident at the end of the academic year (p>0.1). The peer‐led intervention appears to improve measured outcomes initially suggesting the program model would be effective over a longer intervention period. Support: National Research Initiative Grant AG 2008 55215 18828 from the USDA National Institute for Food and Agriculture.