A Pilot Dance Intervention to Encourage Physical Activity Engagement for Adolescent Girls with Intellectual Disabilities.

Adolescent girls with intellectual disabilities (ID) are at risk for low physical activity (PA) participation due to their limited opportunities. PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a 12-week dance intervention to promote engagement in moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and increase cardiorespiratory fitness. METHODS: The 12-week intervention included two 75-min weekly dance sessions. Continuous heart-rate (HR) monitoring assessed time spent below/at/above each girl's target HR zone. Cardiorespiratory fitness was measured by the 6-min walk test (6MWT). Survey items assessed participant enjoyment and participant and parent satisfaction. RESULTS: The mean (SD) age of 18 adolescent girls was 17.3 (2.7) years. Overall, girls attended 88% of sessions and spent 52.3% of each session in MVPA. Mean MVPA was unchanged across the 12 weeks, but the pattern differed across the three sites. We observed a non-significant pre-post increase of 74.6 feet on the 6MWT. Post-intervention surveys indicated that most girls liked the program, perceived improved fitness, and wished to continue dancing. The majority also reported a preference for a girls-only dance program exclusively for those with ID. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that dance is viable for promoting PA for girls with ID. More frequent exercise training is likely needed to improve cardiorespiratory fitness.

Physical activity and sedentary behavior: a review of longitudinal studies of weight and adiposity in youth.

AIM: To review the published prospective observational studies of the relationship of physical activity and sedentary behavior with the development of overweight and adiposity, with an emphasis on methodologic issues. METHODS: Sample size, population studied, length of follow-up, assessment of exposure (physical activity, inactivity, or sedentary behavior), assessment of outcome (relative weight, overweight, % body fatness, adiposity), statistical approach, and main findings were extracted, summarized, and key methodological issues highlighted. RESULTS: In total, 17 studies of physical activity and 15 studies of inactivity/sedentary behavior were identified; as these were not mutually exclusive, 20 unique studies were reviewed. Results were mixed, with most studies showing an inverse association of physical activity with weight or fatness outcomes and/or a direct association of inactivity/sedentary behavior with weight or fatness outcomes. The effects identified were generally of small magnitude. Imprecise measurement of activity exposures likely weakens the observed relationships. Most studies used a pre-post design and had limited duration of follow-up (< or = 2y). Studies with longer and more frequent follow-up did not always use the most advantageous statistical approach. CONCLUSIONS: On balance, the available evidence from prospective observational studies suggests that increased physical activity and decreased sedentary behavior are protective against relative weight and fatness gains over childhood and adolescence. In addition to improved measurement methods, longer and more frequent follow-up as well as truly longitudinal analysis methods would help establish these important prevention and intervention targets, and identify subgroups or development periods where interventions would likely be effective.