Triple Play

Triple Play is a comprehensive health and wellness program developed in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and is funded by The Coca Cola Company and Kraft Foods Inc.

The program uses a three-pronged strategy of targeting the minds, bodies, and souls of children ages 6-18.
- The Mind component encourages young people to eat smart through the Healthy Habits program, which covers the power of choice, calories, vitamins and minerals, the food pyramid and appropriate portion size.
- The Body component boosts Clubs’ traditional physical activities by providing activities for all youth. Body programs include Daily Fitness Challenges; teen Sports Clubs focused on leadership development, service, and careers in athletics; and inter-Club tournaments that involve team sports.
- The Soul component helps build positive relationships and cooperation among young people.

To improve members' physical health, increase their knowledge about healthy lifestyles, and improve their self-esteem and behavior.

Triple Play is currently available to some 4,000 Boys & Girls Clubs serving over 4.2 million youth. Since the program’s launch in 2005, Clubs across the country have seen encouraging lifestyle changes in their members.

Gambone et al. (2009) evaluated the effectiveness of Triple Play in improving health outcomes among 2,242 youth attending 30 Boys and Girls Club locations throughout the United States. A cluster-randomized trial (CRT) design was used to examine the impact of Triple Play on youth. Clubs that agreed to participate were randomized to either implement Triple Play or to serve as a control group. Youth were surveyed and asked to complete activity diaries to assess nutritional knowledge, physical activity, and developmental outcomes and experiences. Assessments were completed at baseline, at midpoint, and at post-study.

Findings:
- Triple Play club youth significantly increased their total knowledge of healthy eating more than control club youth (11% increase versus 2% increase).
- Triple Play club youth significantly increased their knowledge of portion sizes more than youth in control clubs (8% increase versus 1% decrease).
- Triple Play club youth ate significantly more healthy foods daily than control club youth (7 versus 5.7). For Triple Play youth, the trend showed a drop in the number of healthy foods eaten the day before from baseline to the midpoint survey but an increase between midpoint and final survey. For the control youth, this number continued to drop over the study period.
- Triple Play club youth ate significantly more healthy fruits and vegetables than control club youth (0.32 increase in the number of fruits and vegetables eaten versus 0.55 decrease in fruits and vegetables eaten).
- The frequency of breakfast eating for youth in Triple Play clubs and control clubs both decreased. However, the number of days dropped at a slower rate for Triple Play youth than for youth a control club youth (0.6 versus 1.1).
- Triple Play club youth significantly increased their number of minutes spent exercising per day, compared with control club youth (6-minute increases versus a 4-minute decrease).
- Triple Play club youth showed a significant increase in the number of days spent exercising more than 60 minutes, compared with control club youth (0.8 increase in days versus 0.2 decrease in days).
- Triple Play club youth showed a significant decrease in the number of days spent exercising less than 30 minutes, compared to control club youth (.93 decrease in days compared to .02 increase in days).
- Increased high-quality peer interactions (along the dimensions of communication, conflict, instrumental support and emotional support by peers) for Triple Play club youth (5% increase in youth reporting high-quality interactions versus a 4% decrease).
- Decreased low-quality peer interactions (along the dimensions of communication, conflict, instrumental support and emotional support by peers) for Triple Play club youth (10% decrease in youth reporting low-quality interactions verses 1% decrease).
- Triple Play club youth showed a significantly greater improvement in sense of mastery and control than control club youth (4% increase versus a 5% decrease).