Coronary disease risk factor reduction and behavior modification in minority adolescents: The PATH program

To evaluate the impact of a unique school-based program of exercise, health education, and behavior modification on health knowledge, health behaviors, coronary risk factors, and cardiovascular fitness in minority adolescents.A total of 346 students from an inner-city public high school participated in health promotion intervention or regular physical education volleyball classes. Subjects were African-American (47%), Asian-American (9%), Hispanic (21%), white (3%), and other (19%). The health promotion curriculum consisted of 11 weeks of daily circuit training exercise and health lecture-discussions.The groups were similar in age, height, weight, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Following intervention both boys (P.001) and girls (P.006) significantly improved health knowledge test scores. Significant benefits for girls included improved dietary habits (P.05), reduced cholesterol (P.004), and higher estimated V(O2)max (P.0001). There were no other significant changes in boys.The results suggest that a school-based health promotion program of exercise and health lecture-discussion is beneficial for multiethnic, inner-city adolescents, especially females.