An after-school obesity prevention program for African-American girls: the Minnesota GEMS pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
This paper describes the development of an after-school obesity-prevention program for African-American girls, and presents findings from a 12-week pilot trial conducted by the University of Minnesota. This study was part of the GEMS project, created to test interventions designed to reduce excess weight gain in African-American girls.


METHODS
Two-arm parallel group, randomized controlled trial. Measures were taken at baseline and at 12 weeks follow up.


METHODS
An after-school community program.


METHODS
Fifty-four African-American girls, 8- to 10-years of age, and their parents/caregivers.


METHODS
The after-school intervention was conducted twice a week for 12 weeks, and focused on increasing physical activity and healthy eating. A family component was also included. Girls in the control group received a program over 12 weeks unrelated to nutrition and physical activity.


RESULTS
Measures included height and weight (body mass index), percent body fat (DEXA), physical activity, assessed using a CSA accelerometer and self-report, two 24-hour dietary recalls, and psycho-social and demographic variables. Parental data included demographic and psycho-social characteristics, and dietary measures. Additionally, process evaluation data on the intervention were collected.


RESULTS
Recruitment goals were met. After adjustment for baseline level, follow-up BMI did not differ between the treatment groups, an expected finding, given that this was a pilot study. At 12 weeks follow up, differences between the intervention and control groups were in the hypothesized direction of change for most variables, among both the girls and their parents. Process evaluation results demonstrated that the program was well attended, and well received, by girls and parents.


CONCLUSIONS
An after-school obesity prevention program for low-income African-American girls is a promising model for future efforts.
Story
Mary
M
Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55454, USA. story@epi.umn.edu
Sherwood
Nancy E
NE
Himes
John H
JH
Davis
Marsha
M
Jacobs
David R
DR
Cartwright
Yolanda
Y
Smyth
Mary
M
Rochon
James
J
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D015444:Exercise; D005190:Family / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008910:Minnesota; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D009765:Obesity / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012574:Schools; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors