Black leadership in girls' health: A peer-led physical activity program

Abstract

Culturally relevant approaches that address low physical activity rates among Black girls are increasing, yet opportunities to engage in physical activity remain minimal. Coupled with deficit approaches to school-based physical activity programming, positioning Black adolescent girls as physical activity leaders is missing from practice. BLinG-HealthTM (Black Leadership in Girls’ Health) aims to develop peer leaders to participate in and deliver group fitness sessions in after-school physical activity pilot program. A first to combine diffusions of innovations theory, racism as a root cause, and the sociological framework, this paper presents data on adolescent girls engaged in an 8-week pre-test-post-test quasi-experimental pilot study examining the impact of a peer-led, school-based physical activity intervention program targeting Black girls in high school on physical activity engagement, body composition, cardiovascular endurance, and muscular strength with a goal of sustainability as a permanent school program. Peer leaders led classmates in group fitness two to three days a week for eight weeks. Peer leaders and participants completed assessment rounds at baseline and week nine, including height and weight, to compute body mass index, waist circumference, hip circumference, hip-to-waist ratio, a 12-minute run/walk, and push-up test. Challenging deficit narratives on Black girls’ physical activity engagement, participants consistently attended weekly group fitness sessions and improved cardiovascular and muscular fitness and health outcomes. Empowering Black adolescent girls/young women to lead group fitness sessions among peers may enhance physical activity engagement. Schools should consider culturally relevant programming to increase Black girls’ opportunities to engage in physical activity.