Evaluation of a 6-month multi-disciplinary healthy weight management program targeting urban, overweight adolescents: effects on physical fitness, physical activity, and blood lipid profiles.
This study evaluated preliminary physical fitness, physical activity, and blood lipid profile data obtained from overweight adolescents upon enrolling in a healthy weight management program and following 6 months of program participation. One hundred and sixty-eight participants (13.4+/-1.8 years, 37.9+/-8.3 kg/m(2), 59.5% female and 76.2% African-American) enrolled in the program. The intervention addressed factors related to nutrition, physical activity, and other behaviors related to weight management. Sixty-four participants (38.1%) completed 6 months of program participation. While there was no significant reduction in body mass or body mass index (BMI), BMI z-score was reduced by 1.2% (p < 0.05), cardiorespiratory fitness was increased by 10.8% (p = 0.001), body fat percentage was reduced by 2.6% (p = 0.001), total cholesterol was reduced by 7.2% (p < 0.001), and low density lipoprotein (LDL-C) was reduced by 8.4% (p < 0.001) at 6 months. Continued development and evaluation of programs designed to prevent and treat child and adolescent overweight is warranted to address this major public health issue.
Evans
Ronald K
RK
Department of Health and Human Performance, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284-2020, USA. rkevans@vcu.edu
Franco
R Lee
RL
Stern
Marilyn
M
Wickham
Edmond P
EP
Bryan
Daphne L
DL
Herrick
Jeffrey E
JE
Larson
Nicole Y
NY
Abell
Angela M
AM
Laver
Joseph H
JH
D000293:Adolescent; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D050177:Overweight / Q000097:blood; D010809:Physical Fitness; D014504:Urban Health; D015431:Weight Loss
D008055:Lipids