Planet Health Program may aid in reducing sedentary television watching behavior

(9.) Gortmaker, Peterson et al. (1999). Reducing obesity via a school-based interdisciplinary intervention among youth: Planet Health. Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, 153, 409-418.

Target Group: Children in Grades 6 & 7

Program Name: Planet Health

Location: United States

Program Theory: Behavioural-Choice Theory & Social Cognitive Theory

Study Objective: To evaluate the impact of a school-based health behavior intervention on television viewing behavior and obesity indexes.

Study Design:
- randomized trial
- 1,295 children in grades 6 & 7
- 5 intervention schools, 5 control schools

Intervention or Program:
- school-based interdisciplinary intervention over 2 school years
- each intervention school received teacher training workshops, classroom lessons, physical education materials, wellness sessions, and ‘fitness funds’
- Planet Health sessions were included within existing curricula using classroom teachers in 4 major subjects and physical education; traditionally required skills and competencies in middle school were used as vehicles for conveying Planet health message
- intervention sessions focused on decreasing television viewing and increasing moderate and vigorous physical activity
- television viewing and physical activity behavior assessed pre by self-report

Impact on Physical Activity:
- television viewing in the intervention group was reduced for boys, 0.4 hours per day and girls 0.48 hours per day
- minutes spent in physical activity did not differ significantly
- prevalence of obesity for girls was reduced in the intervention schools, although not for boys
- among girls, each hour of reduction in television viewing predicted a reduction in prevalence of obesity