Evaluation of a pilot hospital-based community program implementing fitness and nutrition education for overweight children.
OBJECTIVE
Evaluate the effect of the Kids Living Fit hospital-based intervention on body mass index (BMI) percentile, adjusted for age (months) and gender in children ages 8-12 years with BMI percentiles > or = 85.


METHODS
Twelve weekly exercise sessions and three nutrition presentations were held. Nurses recorded BMI and waist circumference at baseline, week 12, and week 24. Participants completed food and activity diaries.


RESULTS
Of the 32 participants enrolled, 16 completed all outcome measures and experienced a decrease in average BMI, BMI percentile, and waist circumference between baseline and weeks 12 and 24.


CONCLUSIONS
Hospitals can offer exercise and nutrition programs to decrease childhood obesity in their communities.
Speroni
Karen Gabel
KG
Nursing Research, Inova Loudoun Hospital, Leesburg, VA, USA. kgabelsperoni@smartneighborhood.net
Tea
Christine
C
Earley
Cynthia
C
Niehoff
Vonzie
V
Atherton
Martin
M
D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D003151:Community Health Centers / Q000458:organization & administration; D015444:Exercise; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006764:Hospitals, Community / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D014481:United States