Effects of a school-based weight maintenance program for Mexican-American children: results at 2 years.
The prevalence of childhood overweight has increased significantly, with the highest rates noted among Mexican Americans. Many negative health outcomes are associated with overweight; thus, there is a need for effective weight-loss interventions tailored to this group. This study evaluated 24-month outcomes of a randomized, controlled trial involving an intensive lifestyle-based weight maintenance program targeting overweight Mexican-American children at a charter school in Houston, Texas. A total of 60 children (33 males, 55%) between the ages of 10 and 14 at or >85th percentile for BMI were recruited. Participants were randomized to an instructor-led intervention (ILI) or a self-help (SH) program, both aimed at modifying eating and physical activity behaviors using behavior modification strategies. Changes in participants' standardized BMI (zBMI) were assessed at baseline, 1, and 2 years. Tricep skinfold, total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and calculated low-density lipoprotein were assessed at baseline and 1 year. ILI participants showed significantly greater decreases in zBMI at 1 and 2 years (F = 26.8, P < 0.001, F = 4.1, P < 0.05, respectively) compared to SH controls. ILI participants showed greater improvements in body composition, as measured by tricep skinfold (F = 9.75, P < 0.01). Children in the ILI condition experienced benefits with respect to total cholesterol (F = 7.19, P < 0.05) and triglycerides (F = 4.35, P < 0.05) compared to children in the SH condition. Overall, the school-based intervention resulted in improved weight and clinical outcomes in overweight Mexican-American children, and zBMI was maintained over 2 years.
Johnston
Craig A
CA
Baylor College of Medicine, USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics-Nutrition, Houston, Texas, USA. caj@bcm.edu
Tyler
Chermaine
C
Fullerton
Ginny
G
McFarlin
Brian K
BK
Poston
Walker S C
WS
Haddock
C Keith
CK
Reeves
Rebecca S
RS
Foreyt
John P
JP
D000293:Adolescent; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D017058:Mexican Americans; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D015995:Prevalence; D012572:School Health Services; D012648:Self Care; D013781:Texas; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D015431:Weight Loss
D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol