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NCSEM part of a study encouraging adolescent girls to embrace physical activity

Researchers from Loughborough University will measure adolescent girls’ physical activity levels as part of a £600,000 investigation into the effectiveness of a dedicated school-based programme.

They will be joined by researchers from the Leicester-Loughborough Diet, Lifestyle and Physical Activity Biomedical Research Unit (BRU) – a collaboration between Loughborough University, University Hospitals of Leicester and the University of Leicester, based at the NCSEM-EM.

Experts at the University of Leicester’s Diabetes Research Centre and researchers from Bangor University and the University of Stirling are also involved in the investigation, after funding of £599,444 was secured from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) PHR Programme.

The research team has joined forces with the Youth Sport Trust to test the effectiveness of the Girls Active school-based physical activity programme, which provides training, resources and support for teachers to think about the way in which they deliver physical activity, sport and PE in their schools.

The study includes measuring the physical activity levels of approximately 1,600 girls aged 11 to 14 years[1] using a physical activity monitor attached to their wrists. The participating girls are also required to complete questionnaires about their feelings towards physical activity, sport and PE.

If the research reveals Girls Active to be a success and value for money, it is hoped that the programme could be rolled out to all secondary schools in the UK.

Read the Loughborough University press release for more information.

[1] A total of 20 Midlands-based schools are involved in the study, including schools in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.