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Objective: We assessed changes in the frequency of self-reported physical activity (PA) among tween girls exposed and not exposed to the VERB [TM] Summer Scorecard (VSS) intervention in Lexington, Kentucky, during 2004, 2006, and 2007. Methods: Girls who reported 0-1 day per week of PA were classi?ed as having "little or no" PA. Girls who reported 2-3 days of PA were classi?ed as "low" PA performers; 4-5 days of PA were labeled as "moderate" performers; and 6-7 days of PA were identi?ed as "high" performers. Logit regression analysis of survey data from girls identi?ed trends in PA frequency across time. Results: In 2004, participant girls were more likely than girls unfamiliar with VSS (reference group girls) to report "high" frequency of PA (OR = 1.44, CI = 1.18, 1.70). In 2006, participants were statistically less likely than reference group girls to report "low" frequency of PA (OR = 1.75, CI = 1.33, 2.21). In 2007, VSS participants were consistently more likely to report "moderate" frequency (OR = 1.56, CI = 1.35, 1.77) and "high" frequency of PA (OR = 1.44, CI = 1.24, 1.64) than reference group girls. Conclusion: An innovative, community-driven intervention demonstrated promise for increasing PA among tween girls. VSS may have transportability to other communities to help reverse the secular trend of declining PA for this population segment. (Contains 2 tables.)

Background: Community-based prevention marketing (CBPM) is a program planning framework that blends community-organizing principles with a social marketing mind-set to design, implement, and evaluate public health interventions. A community coalition used CBPM to create a physical activity promotion program for tweens (youth 9-13 years of age) called VERB[TM] Summer Scorecard. Based on the national VERB[TM] media campaign, the program offered opportunities for tweens to try new types of physical activity during the summer months. Methods: The VERB[TM] Summer Scorecard was implemented and monitored between 2004 and 2007 using the 9-step CBPM framework. Program performance was assessed through in-depth interviews and a school-based survey of youth. Results: The CBPM process and principles used by school and community personnel to promote physical activity among tweens are presented. Observed declines may become less steep if school officials adopt a marketing mind-set to encourage youth physical activity: deemphasizing health benefits but promoting activity as something fun that fosters spending time with friends while trying and mastering new skills. Conclusions: Community-based programs can augment and provide continuity to school-based prevention programs to increase physical activity among tweens. (Contains 2 tables and 1 figure.)

Interventions which facilitate physical activity of youth are vital for promoting community health and reducing obesity. This study assessed the results of a community-driven program, VERB[TM] Summer Scorecard, as knowledge of exposure to and awareness of community-based interventions for physical activity among youth could inform design and implementation of such interventions. A total of 2,215 youth ages 8 to 12 years responded to a survey about physical activity. Ordinal logistic regression suggested that youth who participated in this program were 1.73 times (95%CI= 1.41, 2.11) more likely to report high physical activity than nonparticipating youth 9 mo. after the intervention's first full-scale application. The program appeared to appeal more to girls than boys. Such results are encouraging for use in communities. DOI 10.2466/06.10.11.14.PMS.111.4.240-248

Abstract: The VERB™ campaign used a social marketing approach to deliver its message through the mass media, school and community promotions, and partnerships to encourage children aged 9–13 years (tweens) to be physically active every day. This paper presents the VERB campaign''s community and national partnership strategy, highlights three successful partnerships, and discusses challenges associated with the efforts. The national advertising generated awareness of and affinity for the product''s brand and motivated the primary audience to seek out the product. The campaign''s national and community partners were engaged to facilitate a product-distribution channel. The campaign developed a three-pronged partnership strategy to integrate the promotion with the placement of the campaign''s product (physical activity): (1) reframe the way physical activity is positioned and delivered; (2) connect the brand to the point-of-purchase; and (3) refer (or drive) the audience to the action outlets, opportunities, places, spaces and programs to purchase the product. The VERB campaign provided partners with marketing training and resources to assist them as they leveraged tweens'' brand awareness and supported regular physical activity among tweens. The method of technical assistance and the types of marketing tools were provided in relationship to four characteristics of the partner: (1) partner''s network, (2) leaders and champions in the network, (3) partner''s financial resources for community campaigns; and (4) partner''s understanding of the marketing mindset. Coordinated, collaborative, and strong mass-media and community-based interventions within a national social marketing campaign can sustain the immediate effects of such campaigns. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]