Table 1 Intervention components, behavior change techniques and targeted constructs
Intervention component | Dose | Description | Behavior change strategy | Targeted construct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1) Enhanced school sport sessions | 40 × 90 minutes | School sport sessions will be delivered by teachers and for the first 10 weeks involve an information component (10-15 minutes) and a PA session (75-80 minutes). The information component will address PA and nutrition recommendations, benefits and behavioral strategies. Teacher-directed PA sessions will include a range of lifetime physical activities organized into four week units. Activities will include resistance training using elastic tubing devices, circuit training, boxing style fitness, Zumba® dance, yoga, skipping rope activities, pedometer activities and a mini-Olympics. | * Prompt specific goal setting * Information on consequences * Prompt intention formation * Provide instruction * Barrier identification * General encouragement * Graded tasks | * Outcome expectations * Social support * Self-efficacy * Physical self-perception * Intentions |
2) Interactive seminars | 3 × 30 minutes | Participants will attend three interactive seminars delivered by members of the research team. Interactive seminars will revise key PA and nutrition recommendations and behavioral strategies to support the student-directed implementation of the lunch-time activities. | * Provide information about behavior health link * Prompt self-monitoring of behaviors * Plan social support or social change * Prompt barrier identification | * Outcome expectations * Social support * Self-efficacy * Intentions |
3) Nutrition workshops | 3 × 90 minutes | Students will participate in three nutrition workshops delivered by APDs which will provide dietary information and focus on the preparation of inexpensive healthy meals. The activities are planned to develop lifetime nutrition skills that facilitate healthy weight maintenance, including: interpreting nutritional information on food labels, recipe modification and preparation, energy balance and kilojoule concept. | * Information on food and nutrition * Model or demonstrate the behavior * Graded tasks | * Outcome expectations * Self-efficacy * Intentions |
4) Lunch-time PA sessions | 30 × 30 minutes | Student-directed PA sessions involving a range of lifetime physical activities. These sessions will complement the activities offered in the enhanced school sport sessions. In addition, participants will be encouraged to recruit and instruct Grade 7 students in a range of lifetime physical activities. | * Model or demonstrate the behavior * Graded tasks * Prompt identification as a role model | * Outcome expectations * Social support * Physical self-perception * Self-efficacy |
5) PA and nutrition handbooks | 10 weeks | Participants will be provided with PA and nutrition handbooks. The handbooks will include 10 weeks of information and home challenges designed to promote PA and healthy eating for parents and participants. | * Provide information about behavior health link * Prompt self-monitoring of behaviors * Plan social support or social change | * Self-efficacy * Social support * Outcome expectations * Intentions |
6) Parent newsletters | 1 × school term (4 in total) | Parents of study participants will be provided with newsletters describing the study progress and detailing information designed to encourage support of their children's PA and healthy eating behaviors in the home environment. | * Provide feedback on performance * Plan social support or social change * General encouragement * Provide information about behavior health link | * Outcome expectations * Social support * Self-efficacy |
7) Pedometers | 9 months | Participants will be provided with pedometers and encouraged to initiate goal setting and self-monitoring behaviors. Participants will also be given pedometer challenges to complete over the holiday periods. | * Prompt self-monitoring * Prompt specific goal setting | * Outcome expectations * Social support * Self-efficacy |
8) Text messaging | 1 × week (40 weeks) 2 × week (10 weeks) | Students will be sent weekly and twice weekly text messages encouraging them to be physically active and eat healthily. Text messages will also provide strategies to overcome barriers to PA and healthy eating. Students without mobile phones will receive these messages via email. | * Plan social support or social change * General encouragement * Provide information about behavior health link * Barrier identification | * Outcome expectations * Social support * Self-efficacy |