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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #297091
Title: Inclusion of peers in a school-based obesity intervention

Author
item JOHNSTON, CRAIG - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item MORENO, JENNETTE - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item EL-MUBASHER, ABEER - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item PAPAIOANNOU, MARIA - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item WOEHLER, DEBORAH - The Cluthe And William B Oliver Foundation

Submitted to: Journal of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/1/2012
Publication Date: 4/21/2013
Citation: Johnston, C.A., Moreno, J.P., El-Mubasher, A., Papaioannou, M.A., Woehler, D. 2013. Inclusion of peers in a school-based obesity intervention [abstract]. Journal of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. 27:1063.22.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The increasing prevalence of childhood obesity and the comorbid health problems highlight a pressing need to identify effective treatments that address this public health problem during the childhood years. The current study evaluated a school-based pediatric obesity program for middle-school children. A total of 163 adolescents between the ages of 11 and 12 were recruited, with 74 adolescents being at or above the 85th percentile for body mass index (BMI). Students were randomized to a peer-mentor intervention (PM, n=38) or treatment as usual (TAU, n=36) condition. The PM condition received nutrition education that included lifestyle change techniques once a week and participated in physical activity the other 4 days of the week. The PM condition was led by peer mentors and program staff. The TAU condition received a typical health and physical education class. Twelve-month measurements have been collected on 55 students (PM, n=26, TAU, n=29). Repeated Measures ANOVA was used to evaluate weight changes between the groups using standardized BMIs at baseline, 3, and 6 months. Adolescents in the PM condition significantly reduced their zBMI when compared to the adolescents in the TAU condition (F=4.3, p<.05). This study suggests that an integrated health program supported by peers is a promising approach for school-based pediatric obesity prevention.