304813
Effects of an after-school obesity prevention program on low-income, minority children
Purpose: This study evaluated the impact of an evidence-based intervention on the prevention of childhood obesity through changes in a low-income, ethnically diverse after-school program.
Methods: Children in grades 3-8 participating in an after-school program in a high-poverty, primarily minority urban community (n=19; mean age=10.4; 53% female; 100% African American; 42% overweight/obese; 94% of families receive food assistance) received a 6-month obesity prevention program that included an enhanced physical activity (PA) curriculum. The curriculum encouraged 30-min of inclusive, noncompetitive PA daily. After-school staff participated in ongoing trainings and received continuous support from researchers to build the capacity of staff to implement the program. Pretest and posttest assessment included height and weight, blood lipids, physical fitness, accelerometer-based PA, and psychosocial well-being. Data were analyzed using paired t-tests.
Results: Unexpectedly, child BMI increased following the 6-month intervention (0<0.05); however, numerous health indicators improved, including: push-ups (pre=5; post=10, p<0.01), sit-ups (pre=7;post=32,p=0.03), total cholesterol (pre=143mg/dL; post=124; p=0.02); and LDL cholesterol (pre=73mg/dl; post=54, p=0.02). Several psychosocial indicators improved: health perception (p=0.08), after-school PA opportunities (p=0.03), and enjoyment of PA (p=0.07).
Conclusions: Interventions that emphasize inclusive, noncompetitive PA may be an effective strategy to preventing obesity and promoting health in low-income, minority children attending after-school programs. Providing ongoing support, equipment, and continuous trainings to program staff may enhance effectiveness.
Learning Areas:
Diversity and cultureImplementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Social and behavioral sciences
Learning Objectives:
Describe the application of the Social Cognitive Theory to target low-income, minority children to prevent obesity.
Discuss the feasibility and applicability of impacting low-income, minority children through the after-school setting.
Describe an evidence-based, culturally appropriate after-school intervention to increase physical activity, and improve health outcomes.
Keyword(s): Minority Research, Physical Activity
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the principal investigator on several local and institutionally supported grants. As a graduate student I worked on several million dollar grants funded by the USDA focused on obesity prevention. My research centers on the influences on physical activity, sedentary behavior and healthful eating in children. I then take that information to develop and evaluate community-based interventions to impact parents and youth to prevent obesity.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.