Obesity prevention in low socioeconomic status urban African-american adolescents: study design and preliminary findings of the HEALTH-KIDS Study.
OBJECTIVE
Obesity prevention among children and adolescents is a public health priority; however, limited school-based intervention trials targeting obesity have been conducted. This article provides an overview of the study design and baseline preliminary findings of our ongoing school-based intervention study.


METHODS
Randomized intervention trial to test a school-based, environmental obesity prevention program in urban low socioeconomic status (SES) African-American adolescents. The intervention program was developed based on several behavioral theories and was guided by preliminary findings based on focus group discussion and baseline data.


METHODS
Four Chicago public schools in the US.


METHODS
Over 450 5-7th graders and their families and schools were involved.


RESULTS
Our baseline data indicate a high prevalence of overweight (43% in boys and 41% in girls) and a number of problems in these children's physical activity and eating patterns. Only 26% reported spending > or = 20 min engaged in vigorous-moderate exercise in > or = 5 days over the past 7 days; 29% reported spending > or = 5 h each day watching TV, playing video games, or using computer. They also consumed too many fried foods and soft drinks. On average, 55% consumed fried foods > or = 2 times/day over the past 7 days; regarding soft drinks, 70% reported consuming > or = 2 times/day.


CONCLUSIONS
School-based obesity prevention programs are urgently needed in the target US urban, low SES, minority communities. These data can be used to inform intervention activities.
Wang
Y
Y
Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Center for Human Nutrition, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. ywang@jhsph.edu
Tussing
L
L
Odoms-Young
A
A
Braunschweig
C
C
Flay
B
B
Hedeker
D
D
Hellison
D
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D017195:Adolescent Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D001741:Black or African American; D002253:Carbonated Beverages / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002641:Chicago / Q000453:epidemiology; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015995:Prevalence; D012574:Schools; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors