ERIC Number: EJ1113634
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016-Oct
Pages: 10
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-4391
EISSN: N/A
A School-Based Program for Overweight and Obese Adolescents: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Pbert, Lori; Druker, Susan; Barton, Bruce; Schneider, Kristin L.; Olendzki, Barbara; Gapinski, Mary A.; Kurtz, Stephen; Osganian, Stavroula
Journal of School Health, v86 n10 p699-708 Oct 2016
Background: Given the dramatic increase in adolescent overweight and obesity, models are needed for implementing weight management treatment through readily accessible venues. We evaluated the acceptability and efficacy of a school-based intervention consisting of school nurse-delivered counseling and an afterschool exercise program in improving diet, activity, and body mass index (BMI) among overweight and obese adolescents. Methods: A pair-matched cluster-randomized controlled school-based trial was conducted in which 8 public high schools were randomized to either a 12-session school nurse-delivered cognitive-behavioral counseling intervention plus school-based after school exercise program, or 12-session nurse contact with weight management information (control). Overweight or obese adolescents (N = 126) completed anthropometric and behavioral assessments at baseline and 8-month follow-up. Main outcome measures included diet, activity, and BMI. Mixed effects regression models were conducted to examine differences at follow-up. Result: At follow-up, students in intervention compared with control schools were not different in BMI, percent body fat, and waist circumference. Students reported eating breakfast (adjusted mean difference 0.81 days; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.11-1.52) on more days/week; there were no differences in other behaviors targeted by the intervention. Conclusions: While a school-based intervention including counseling and access to an after-school exercise program is theoretically promising with public health potential, it was not effective in reducing BMI or key obesogenic behaviors. Our findings are important in highlighting that interventions targeted at the individual level are not likely to be sufficient in addressing the adolescent obesity epidemic without changes in social norms and the environment.
Descriptors: School Health Services, Obesity, Adolescents, High School Students, Randomized Controlled Trials, Nurses, Teaching Methods, Intervention, Exercise, Pretests Posttests, Eating Habits, Physical Activity Level, Body Composition, Body Weight, Regression (Statistics), Comparative Analysis, School Counseling, Program Effectiveness, Health Behavior
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Institutes of Health (DHHS)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: R21HL110208