Osteoporosis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Osteoporosis, including details on symptoms, treatment, prevention, causes.

Use of a Web-based component of a nutrition and physical activity behavioral intervention with Girl Scouts.

Rydell SA, French SA, Fulkerson JA, Neumark-Sztainer D, Gerlach AF, Story M, Christopherson KK

Division of Epidemiology & Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55454, USA.

This study describes the development and usage of a Web-based component of a nutrition and physical activity behavioral intervention to promote bone health among preadolescent girls. Thirty Girl Scout troops were randomized to either an intervention or control group for a 2-year period. Girls in the intervention troops (aged 10 to 12 years, N=194) were exposed to grade-specific Web sites that were developed to reinforce the content of the broader, face-to-face intervention. In 5th grade, 82% of the girls logged on once and 48% logged on more than once, compared to 56% and 23% of 6th graders, respectively. Results suggest that although Web-site usage decreased over time, a Web-site program may be useful as a component of a face-to-face, multicomponent intervention. More research is needed to determine ways to enhance and maintain Web-site use over time among youth in health-behavior intervention programs.

Published 30 August 2005 in J Am Diet Assoc, 105(9): 1447-50.
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