A School-Based Program for Overweight and Obese Adolescents: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors
Pbert, LoriDruker, Susan
Barton, Bruce A.
Schneider, Kristin L.
Olendzki, Barbara C.
Gapinski, Mary Ann
Kurtz, Stephen
Osganian, Stavroula K.
UMass Chan Affiliations
Prevention Research CenterDepartment of Quantitative Health Sciences
Department of Medicine, Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine
Document Type
Journal ArticlePublication Date
2016-10-01Keywords
adolescentsdiet
obesity
physical activity
school-based program
Pediatrics
Preventive Medicine
Psychiatry and Psychology
Public Health
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
BACKGROUND: Given the dramatic increase in adolescent overweight and obesity, models are needed for implementing weight management treatment through readily accessible venues. We evaluated the acceptability and efficacy of a school-based intervention consisting of school nurse-delivered counseling and an afterschool exercise program in improving diet, activity, and body mass index (BMI) among overweight and obese adolescents. METHODS: A pair-matched cluster-randomized controlled school-based trial was conducted in which 8 public high schools were randomized to either a 12-session school nurse-delivered cognitive-behavioral counseling intervention plus school-based after school exercise program, or 12-session nurse contact with weight management information (control). Overweight or obese adolescents (N = 126) completed anthropometric and behavioral assessments at baseline and 8-month follow-up. Main outcome measures included diet, activity, and BMI. Mixed effects regression models were conducted to examine differences at follow-up. RESULTS: At follow-up, students in intervention compared with control schools were not different in BMI, percent body fat, and waist circumference. Students reported eating breakfast (adjusted mean difference 0.81 days; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.11-1.52) on more days/week; there were no differences in other behaviors targeted by the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: While a school-based intervention including counseling and access to an after-school exercise program is theoretically promising with public health potential, it was not effective in reducing BMI or key obesogenic behaviors. Our findings are important in highlighting that interventions targeted at the individual level are not likely to be sufficient in addressing the adolescent obesity epidemic without changes in social norms and the environment.Source
J Sch Health. 2016 Oct;86(10):699-708. doi: 10.1111/josh.12428. Link to article on publisher's siteDOI
10.1111/josh.12428Permanent Link to this Item
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14038/29100PubMed ID
27619760Related Resources
Link to Article in PubMedae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1111/josh.12428