The need for these types of interventions has been abundantly documented in recent years at the national as well as state and local levels. At the national level, the Healthy People 2010 initiative cites physical inactivity, overweight, and obesity as being high-priority areas for prevention and intervention in general and especially for youths, because:

1. The percentage of overweight youths has doubled during the past 30 years;

2. As many as 70 to 80% of overweight teens become overweight adults; and,

3. Poor eating habits and inactivity are directly related to conditions of overweight and obesity (Kyles and Lounsbery 38).

Based on the foregoing trends, increased participation in physical activity and sports should be considered an important enterprise for everyone, but particularly young girls who are at higher risk of developing poor eating habits (Kyles and Lounsbery 38).

The problem of obesity and poor eating habits, though, cannot be solved...
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