A randomized controlled trial of culturally tailored dance and reducing screen time to prevent weight gain in low-income African American girls: Stanford GEMS.
OBJECTIVE
To test a 2-year community- and family-based obesity prevention program for low-income African American girls: Stanford GEMS (Girls' health Enrichment Multi-site Studies).


METHODS
Randomized controlled trial with follow-up measures scheduled at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months.


METHODS
Low-income areas of Oakland, California.


METHODS
African American girls aged 8 to 10 years (N=261) and their parents or guardians.


METHODS
Families were randomized to one of two 2-year, culturally tailored interventions: (1) after-school hip-hop, African, and step dance classes and a home/family-based intervention to reduce screen media use or (2) information-based health education.


METHODS
Changes in body mass index (BMI).


RESULTS
Changes in BMI did not differ between groups (adjusted mean difference [95% confidence interval] = 0.04 [-0.18 to 0.27] per year). Among secondary outcomes, fasting total cholesterol level (adjusted mean difference, -3.49 [95% confidence interval, -5.28 to -1.70] mg/dL per year), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (-3.02 [-4.74 to -1.31] mg/dL per year), incidence of hyperinsulinemia (relative risk, 0.35 [0.13 to 0.93]), and depressive symptoms (-0.21 [-0.42 to -0.001] per year) decreased more among girls in the dance and screen time reduction intervention. In exploratory moderator analysis, the dance and screen time reduction intervention slowed BMI gain more than health education among girls who watched more television at baseline (P = .02) and/or those whose parents or guardians were unmarried (P = .01).


CONCLUSIONS
A culturally tailored after-school dance and screen time reduction intervention for low-income, preadolescent African American girls did not significantly reduce BMI gain compared with health education but did produce potentially clinically important reductions in lipid levels, hyperinsulinemia, and depressive symptoms. There was also evidence for greater effectiveness in high-risk subgroups of girls.
Division of General Pediatrics and Stanford Prevention Research Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, 1070 Arastradero Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA. tom.robinson@stanford.edu
Thomas N
TN
Robinson
Donna M
DM
Matheson
Helena C
HC
Kraemer
Darrell M
DM
Wilson
Eva
E
Obarzanek
Nikko S
NS
Thompson
Sofiya
S
Alhassan
Tirzah R
TR
Spencer
K Farish
KF
Haydel
Michelle
M
Fujimoto
Ann
A
Varady
Joel D
JD
Killen
D001741:Black or African American / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002140:California; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D003615:Dancing; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011203:Poverty; D012044:Regression Analysis; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D013690:Television; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D008055:Lipids