ARS | Publication request: An innovative summer camp program improves weight and self-esteem in obese children

Submitted to: Pediatric Academic Society
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: February 15, 2008
Publication Date: May 4, 2008
Repository URL: http://www.abstracts2view.com/pas/view.php?nu=PAS08L1_190
Citation: Wong, W.W., Abrams, S.H., Mikhail, C., Terrazas, N., Wilson, T.A., Areco, D., Mrowczynski, P.K., King, K.L., Stansel, A., Albright, A.N., Barlow, S.E., Klish, W.J. 2008. An innovative summer camp program improves weight and self-esteem in obese children [abstract]. Electronic-Pediatric Academic Societies. Abstract No. 4474.9. Available: http://www.abstracts2view.com/pas/view.php?nu=PAS08L1_190.

Technical Abstract: Obese children benefit from structured life-style changes and need help with self-esteem, which is lower when compared to normal-weight children. Summer camp might offer an opportunity to achieve a healthy lifestyle and to improve weight and self-esteem. he objective is to determine the effectiveness of Kamp Kaana, a multi-disciplinary, residential summer camp, designed to promote diet and behavior skills for weight control. We hypothesize the program will improve self-esteem, body weight, BMI, physical activity performance, and cardiorespiratory fitness among obese children. Twenty-one obese children (4 males/17 females) between 10 and 14 y of age were enrolled in the 2-wk program between July 15 and 29 of 2007 in Livingston, Texas. In addition to the summer camp activities that enhance physical performance and promote self-esteem, the children were introduced to an 1800 kcal/day Traffic Light diet and received nutrition and behavioral lessons. Changes in self-esteem, body weight, BMI, physical activity performance, and cardiorespiratory fitness were measured before and after the 2-wk program. The campers had an average age of 11.4 +/- 1.4 y, initial body weight of 76.7 +/- 15.7 kg, BMI of 32.4 +/- 4.7 kg/m2, BMI percentile 98.5 +/- 1.4, BMI z-score 2.30 +/- 0.33, and an ethnic composition of 12 Hispanics, 8 Caucasians, and 1 African American. Significant improvements were observed in self-esteem (+0.27 +/- 0.33 point by the Self-Perception Profile for Children, p<0.01), body weight (-3.7 +/- 1.2 kg, p<0.01), BMI (-1.6 +/- 0.48 kg/m2, p<0.01), BMI z-score (-0.12 +/- 0.06, p<0.01), number of curl ups (+10.9 +/- 21.5, p<0.04), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (-10.8 +/- 13.4 and -9.4 +/- 5.5 mmHg, respectively, p<0.01), and heart rate (-8.2 +/- 12.7 bpm, p<0.01). The preliminary results indicate that a multi-disciplinary, skill-learning, and fun summer camp program is effective in improving self-esteem, body weight, BMI, physical performance, and cardiovascular risk factors among obese children. Follow-up assessments are being carried out to determine the long-term effectiveness of the summer camp program for the treatment of childhood obesity.