The Green Prescription Program for Increasing Physical Activity in Adolescents

Summary

This study evaluated the effectiveness of the Green Prescription, a school-based behavioral intervention that incorporated health education, designed to increase physical activity among adolescents aged 15-17 years who were insufficiently active.

Participants received individualized written physical activity recommendations together with motivational support to encourage gradual increases in leisure-time physical activity. The intervention was tailored to three target groups: adolescents with overweight or obesity, excessive screen time, or low perceived social support.

The study consisted of two sequential cohorts. In the first cohort, the Green Prescription was delivered by a physical education teacher. In the second cohort, the intervention was delivered by a physical education teacher supported by an interdisciplinary team consisting of a dietitian, psychologist, special education teacher, and physiotherapist.

Physical activity and other health-related outcomes were assessed at baseline, immediately after the 12-week intervention, and six months later.

The study evaluated the effectiveness of the Green Prescription in each intervention group and determined whether the interdisciplinary delivery model resulted in greater improvements in physical activity and healthy lifestyle behaviors than the teacher-led model.

Conditions

• Social Support
• Screen Time
• Physical Inactivity
• Sedentary Lifestyle
• Overweight and/or Obesity

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Green Prescription (Teacher-Led)

The Green Prescription is a school-based behavioral intervention incorporating health education to promote leisure-time physical activity among adolescents with insufficient physical activity. The intervention includes individualized weekly written physical activity recommendations, educational materials, and weekly motivational support, supplemented by additional support when required, delivered by a physical education teacher over a 12-week period. All participants follow the same Green Prescription framework, with group-specific objectives, physical activity recommendations, and educational materials tailored to their primary risk profile (overweight or obesity, excessive recreational screen time, or low perceived social support). Activities were adapted to group needs and recommended PA levels. Written recommendations and educational materials were delivered electronically.

BEHAVIORAL

Green Prescription (Interdisciplinary)

The Green Prescription is a school-based behavioral intervention incorporating health education to promote leisure-time physical activity among adolescents with insufficient physical activity. The intervention includes individualized weekly written physical activity recommendations, educational materials, and weekly motivational support, supplemented by additional support when required, over a 12-week period. The intervention is delivered by a physical education teacher together with an interdisciplinary team consisting of a dietitian, psychologist, special education teacher, and physiotherapist. All participants follow the same Green Prescription framework, with group-specific objectives, physical activity recommendations, and educational materials tailored to their primary risk profile (overweight or obesity, excessive screen time, or low perceived social support). Written recommendations and educational materials were delivered electronically.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ministry of Science and Higher Education, Poland

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• Poznan University of Physical Education

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Jana Krzysztoszek, PhD, DSc · Poznan University of Physical Education

Study Design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

15 Years

Max Age

17 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-06-03

Primary Completion

2026-06-20

Completion

2026-06-30

Countries

• Poland

Study Locations