ERIC Number: EJ1116306
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016-Nov
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-4391
EISSN: N/A
The Role of Ethnicity in School-Based Obesity Intervention for School-Aged Children: A Pilot Evaluation
Karczewski, Sabrina A.; Carter, Jocelyn S.; DeCator, Draycen D.
Journal of School Health, v86 n11 p778-786 Nov 2016
Background: Rates of obesity have risen disproportionately for ethnic minority youth in the United States. School-based programs may be the most comprehensive and cost-effective way to implement primary prevention in children. In this study we evaluated the effect of a school-based obesity prevention on the outcome of body mass index percentile (BMI%), with baseline weight class and ethnicity examined as moderators. Methods: Participants (N = 125), ages 7-11 (56% female) from 4 urban, low-income, ethnic minority (58% black, 42% Latino) schools were recruited. Two schools received the Urban Initiatives Work to Play health intervention, and 2 demographically matched schools served as wait-list controls. Results: Hierarchical multiple regression was used to analyze the independent and interactive effects of key variables on BMI%. An interaction between intervention status and ethnicity revealed Latino youth in the intervention had lower BMI% than those in the control group. Participation did not cause BMI% outcomes to decrease for black participants. Conclusions: The study demonstrates the intervention is effective, but that the effectiveness varies across ethnicity. Interventions can be made more efficient and cost-effective by targeting youth of a common ethnicity that has shown empirical responsiveness to certain program elements.
Descriptors: Incidence, Obesity, Low Income, Ethnicity, Minority Group Students, Control Groups, Urban Areas, African American Students, Hispanic American Students, Multiple Regression Analysis, Urban Schools, Intervention, Health Promotion, Health Behavior, Prevention, Program Effectiveness, Body Composition, Body Weight, Role, Program Descriptions
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Illinois (Chicago)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A