title: A 12-week Interdisciplinary Intervention Program for Children who are Obese.
abstract: Childhood obesity is a growing problem, for which multi-disciplinary interventions are needed.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This interdisciplinary intervention program was designed to improve the health of children who were obese.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five children, mean age 8.1 (1.5) years; body mass index (BMI)> 98(th) percentile, and their parents completed the 12-week (3 days/wk) intervention consisting of aerobic and resistance exercise appropriate to age and developmental levels. Baseline and posttest measures of blood values, fitness, and cardiovascular risk factors were performed. Data were analyzed using paired t-tests with significance accepted at P ≤ .05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant differences between means (SD) for pre- and post-measurements were, respectively: BMI 30.31 (4.56), 27.80 (4.54), body-fat percent 43.7 (11.5), 40.7 (10.9), waist circumference 82.1 (7.1), 80.4(6.1) cm, calf circumference 34.2 (3.1), 35.2 (3.1) cm; step-test heart rate 137 (20), 126 (12) bpm, push-ups 1.0 (1.8), 5.6 (3.8), sit-ups 23.6 (12.7), 33.2 (13.8), sit-and-reach 35.1 (7.4), 41.2 (5.8) cm; systolic BP 102 (10), 108 (9) mmHg, glucose 4.9(0.3), 4.8 (0.4) mmol/L, total cholesterol 4.6 (1.0), 4.2 (0.8) mmol/L, ALT 41 (9), 35 (8) U/L, bilirubin 6.3 (2.4), 5.6 (2.1) μmol/L, and BUN 4.9 (1.1), 4.3 (0.9) mmol/L.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This interdisciplinary intervention program positively affected the fitness and health status of children who were obese by involving the children and parents.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, A.T. Still University, Mesa, AZ.
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Farris
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Williamson
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Robinson