Citation

Elder JP, Crespo NC, Corder K, Ayala GX, Slymen DJ, Lopez NV, Moody JS, McKenzie TL. Pediatr Obes. 2014; 9(3): 218-231.

Affiliation

Institute for Behavioral and Community Health, Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, International Association for the Study of Obesity, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.2047-6310.2013.00164.x

PMID

23754782

Abstract

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT: Child overweight and obesity is a significant public health problem. Mixed method strategies that involve parents and community organizations are promising approaches to prevent and control childhood obesity. Few studies have targeted city recreation centres to promote healthy eating and physical activity behaviours. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS: This study presents the primary results of a family- and recreation centre-based childhood obesity prevention and control intervention. The study was carried out in neighbourhoods of a socioeconomically diverse county of more than 1 000 000 inhabitants. Primary results showed no significant reductions in child's body mass index (BMI); however, secondary analyses showed that girls in the intervention condition reduced BMI significantly more than girls in the control condition. Children in the intervention condition improved on several obesity-related behaviours compared with those in the control condition. BACKGROUND: Interventions to prevent and control childhood obesity have shown mixed results in terms of short- and long-term changes. OBJECTIVES: 'MOVE/me Muevo' was a 2-year family- and recreation centre-based randomized controlled trial to promote healthy eating and physical activity among 5- to 8-year-old children. It was hypothesized that children in the intervention group would demonstrate lower post-intervention body mass index (BMI) values and improved obesity-related behaviours compared with the control group children. METHODS: Thirty recreation centres in San Diego County, California, were randomized to an intervention or control condition. Five hundred forty-one families were enrolled and children's BMI, diet, physical activity and other health indicators were tracked from baseline to 2 years post-baseline. Analyses followed an intent-to-treat approach using mixed-effects models. RESULTS: No significant intervention effects were observed for the primary outcomes of child's or parent's BMI and child's waist circumference. Moderator analyses, however, showed that girls (but not boys) in the intervention condition reduced their BMI. At the 2-year follow-up, intervention condition parents reported that their children were consuming fewer high-fat foods and sugary beverages. CONCLUSIONS: Favourable implementation fidelity and high retention rates support the feasibility of this intervention in a large metropolitan area; however, interventions of greater intensity may be needed to achieve effects on child's BMI. Also, further research is needed to develop gender-specific intervention strategies so that both genders may benefit from such efforts.

Language: en