ARS | Publication request: School-based sports participation and its effects on weight maintenance in Mexican American adolescents: A two-year analysis

Submitted to: Obesity
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: October 2, 2011
Publication Date: November 2, 2011
Citation: Stansberry, S., Palcic, J., El-Mubasher, A.A., Potucek, J., Johnston, C.A., Foreyt, J.P. 2011. School-based sports participation and its effects on weight maintenance in Mexican American adolescents: A two-year analysis [abstract]. Obesity. 19:S236.

Technical Abstract: Participation in sports has been shown to decrease standardized body mass index (zBMI), especially in school settings. Few studies have examined the impact of sports participation in a Mexican American sample. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the effect of sports participation on weight maintenance. First, we examined whether the intervention was effective at encouraging participation in school sports. We hypothesized that students in the treatment condition of the intervention would be more likely to participate in sports once the intervention ended than children in a self-help condition. Further, we hypothesized that students in the treatment condition of a school-based weight loss intervention would demonstrate better maintenance of zBMI at 24-month follow-up if they participated in school sports. The current data was collected as part of a larger study evaluating the effectiveness of a school-based weight loss intervention for Mexican American adolescents. Participants were sixth grade students who were randomized to a 6-month instructor-led intervention (ILI) (n = 188) or self-help (SH) (n = 124) program. Both conditions were aimed at modifying eating and physical activity using behavior modification strategies. Sports skills were a major focus of the ILI, and participating in school-based sports programs was strongly encouraged. Post-intervention measures were obtained at 24 months. Participation in sports was significantly higher in ILI participants than in SH ('2 = 8.72, p < .01). Within the ILI condition, those who participated in school-based sports had significantly greater decreases in zBMI than control (F = 33.85, p < .001). These findings suggest that encouraging school-based sports participation may enhance maintenance efforts for school-based weight loss interventions.