A randomized controlled trial of single versus multiple health behavior change: Promoting physical activity and nutrition among adolescents

Targeting multiple behaviors for change may provide significant health benefits. This study compared interventions targeting physical activity and nutrition (PAN) concurrently versus physical activity (PA) alone. Adolescents (N = 138) were randomized to the PAN or PA intervention or control condition (n = 46 per group). Primary outcomes were change in PA accelerometer and 3-day dietary recording from baseline to 3-month follow-up. The PAN and PA interventions were efficacious in supporting boys' (p <.001) but not girls' (p =.663) PA relative to the control condition. Dietary change was minimal. Although the findings do not reveal a decrement to PA promotion when a nutrition intervention was added, neither do they reveal any additional benefit. More studies comparing single versus multibehavioral interventions are needed.