ARS | Publication request: Community participatory physical activity intervention targets children at high risk for obesity

Submitted to: Journal Of The American Dietetic Association
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: March 31, 2008
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: This community participatory research evaluated the feasibility of a summer soccer and nutrition education program to increase physical activity (PA) in rural Mississippi Delta children at high risk of obesity and previously not exposed to soccer. Children aged 4-12 were recruited through school and community notices, and organized into teams, coached and facilitated by 16 trained high school and college students from the target community. During the 8-wk program, children participated in 2-hr practices 4-6 days a week, 1-hr games 0-2 days each week, and a weekly nutrition education session. Of 107 children who enrolled, 101 completed baseline- and 81 (76%) completed post-assessments. Assessments included anthropometrics, PACER shuttle run (age 7+), and Middle School Youth Risk Behavior survey questions on eating and activity (age 9+). Children were majority African American (100%) males (67%), 9 and under (58%), of normal weight (53%), with overweight or obese parents (78%). At baseline, normal weight children consumed significantly fewer servings of fruit juice (4.5 vs 11.7) and more servings of fruit (11.3 vs 4.4) per week than overweight (BMI %ile>85) children, but did not differ in vegetable, soda, or milk consumption or in level of PA. Anthropometrics, aerobic capacity, fruit and vegetable intake, and PA did not improve during this 8-week intervention. A high level of reach (equivalent to approx. 19% of elementary school enrollment) suggests the process of engaging this health disparity community in a summer PA program was successful; however, a longer duration program is needed to promote biological and behavior changes.