Cardiovascular Diseases, Heart Diseases, Obesity
Conditions
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is to compare changes in body mass index (BMI) among 3- to 5-year-old minority children randomized to a weight control intervention (WCI) or a general health control intervention.
Detailed description
BACKGROUND: Obesity is epidemic in the U.S. and is associated with increased risk for numerous medical problems. Many obesity-related risk factors are strikingly apparent in minority populations. Ethnic differences in obesity related risk factors begin as early as six to nine years of age. Thus, the need for overweight prevention efforts as early as the preschool years is critical. This study builds upon the findings of the Hip-Hop to Health program. The primary aim of Hip-Hop was to compare changes in body mass index (BMI \[kg/m2\]) in two groups of 3- to 5-year-old minority children randomized to a Weight Control Intervention (WCI) or a General Health Control Intervention (GHI). Results for the children at the Year 1 and 2 follow-ups showed that children in the WCI had significantly smaller relative changes in BMI compared to children in the GHI control group. The success was among the schools that served predominantly Black children. Hip-Hop to Health was an efficacy trial delivered by trained specialists in early childhood education, and the first efficacy trial to document change in BMI in preschool children. DESIGN NARRATIVE: This study will test a 14-week teacher-delivered weight control intervention (TD-WCI) to a 14-week teacher delivered general health control intervention (TD-GHI) in a randomized community trial occurring in 16 preschools in the Chicago School District. The study has the following aims: 1) to compare children in these two conditions on changes in BMI post intervention and at Year 1 follow-up; 2) to compare children in these two conditions on changes in television viewing, physical activity, and fat, fiber, fruit and vegetable intake at post-intervention and Year 1 follow-up; and 3) to compare classroom teachers in these two conditions on nutrition and exercise knowledge, nutrition attitudes, and support for healthy eating post-intervention and Year 1 follow-up. The study completion date listed in this record was obtained from the End Date entered in the Protocol Registration and Results System (PRS) record.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALTeacher-Delivered Weight Control Intervention
The teacher-delivered weight control intervention (TD-WCI) is implemented over 14 weeks with three lessons per week. Many lessons include the use of colorful, friendly, hand-made puppets that represent the seven food groups of the food pyramid (Miss Grain, Miss Fruit, Mr. Vegetable, Mr. Protein, Miss Dairy, Mr. Fat and Miss Sugar). Please see Appendix IX for complete curriculum and pictures of puppets. There are three 40-minute lessons per week that consist of a 15-20 minutes interactive healthy eating and exercise didactic session and then 20 minutes of ongoing physical activity (5 minutes warm-up, 15 minutes aerobic activity composed of a number of games and dances with music, 5 minutes cool-down). In addition to the child-based curriculum the WCI has parent newsletters. These newsletters are distributed on a weekly basis and provide information that parallels the children's curriculum
BEHAVIORALTeacher-Delivered General Health Intervention
The teacher-delivered general health intervention (TD-GHI) serves as the control group in the proposed study. TD-GHI is a general health intervention that is similar in structure and length to TD-WCI. Topics include those related to general health and safety, such as car safety, being a good friend, poison safety, disease prevention, etc. An example of an activity is the 911 emergency call. The children learn what 911 is and what would be an appropriate call. They then practice calling 911 on play telephones and relating the important information: nature of the emergency, their name, their address, etc. They learn also to stay on the phone with the 911 dispatcher until someone comes to help them. In addition to the child-based curriculum the GHI has parent newsletters. Like TD-WCI these newsletters are distributed on a weekly basis and provide information that parallels the children's curriculum
Sponsors
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
3 Years to 5 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Have received an annual physical * Parent or guardian willing to give informed consent * Parent or guardian willing to provide demographic and anthropometric data and agree to complete food intake and physical activity information for their child
Exclusion criteria
* Requires a specialized diet outside of that served by the Chicago Public Schools * Has a chronic physical or behavioral disorder that requires participant to be under close medical psychological supervision and routinely absent from the study
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Body height and weight | Sept 2006- May 2009 |
| Healthy Start Knowledge Quiz | Sept 2006- May 2009 |
| 24-hour diet observation and recall | Sept 2006- May 2009 |
| Physical activity | Sept 2006- May 2009 |
| Television viewing (child outcomes, measured immediately after the study and at a 1-year follow-up visit) | Sept 2006- May 2009 |
| Score on short Acculturation Scale (parent outcome, measured immediately after the study and at a 1-year follow-up visit) | Sept 2006- May 2009 |
| Nutrition and exercise knowledge | Sept 2006- May 2009 |
| Self-efficacy for eating and exercise behaviors | Sept 2006- May 2009 |
| Score on Nutrition Attitudes Scale | Sept 2006- May 2009 |
| Support and role modeling for healthy eating (teacher outcomes, measured immediately after the study and at a 1-year follow-up visit) | Sept 2006- May 2009 |
Outcome results
None listed