ARS | Publication request: Weight change among Mexican American students involved in an intensive intervention to prevent and treat obesity: 5-year results

Submitted to: Obesity
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: October 2, 2011
Publication Date: November 2, 2011
Citation: Johnston, C.A., Palcic, J., George, C.S., El-Mubasher, A.A., Tyler, C., Foreyt, J.P. 2011. Weight change among Mexican American students involved in an intensive intervention to prevent and treat obesity: 5-year results [abstract]. Obesity. 19:S111.

Technical Abstract: The rates of child overweight and obesity are epidemic in the United States, with approximately 34% of children classified as either overweight or obese. Mexican American children and adolescents are at particular risk for obesity and associated health problems. Our previous studies have found an intensive, multi-component, school-based, weight management intervention to be efficacious at reducing standardized body mass index (zBMI) in overweight and obese children at 6, 12, and 24 months. The current study provides preliminary results of the 5-year follow up. The current study sought to compare the effects of an intensive school-based obesity program for overweight and obese Mexican American middle school children. Students were randomized to either a 12-week intensive instructor-led intervention (ILI) or a self help (SH) condition. The ILI received a snacking intervention in which students were given peanuts daily as a healthy afternoon snack. Students also received nutrition education once a week and physical activity education the other 4 days of the week. In addition, monthly meetings were held that included the entire family. The SH condition received a book that was intended to promote a healthy diet, physical activity, and lifestyle change techniques. The ILI was led by program staff while the SH condition was led by parents. Repeated Measures ANOVA was used to evaluate weight changes between the groups using standardized BMIs from baseline to 5 years. Children in the ILI condition trended toward greater weight loss than students in the SH condition (F = 3.9, p = .06). Overall, the results are promising, suggesting that our intensive school-based obesity treatment program is not only effective in promoting maintenance of treatment effect at 2 years, but these results may also be maintained at 5 years.