Challenge! Health Promotion/Obesity Prevention
Pediatric obesity has dramatically increased in the past three decades, particularly among low-income and minority adolescents. The study evaluates a community-based obesity prevention program with an eye toward determining if home and community activities can reduce the prevalence of pediatric obesity among urban, black adolescents.
A total of 235 black adolescents were recruited from low-income urban communities. Of these 235 adolescents, 38 percent were overweight. Participants were randomly assigned to obesity prevention programs wherein college-aged black mentors delivered 12 sessions of the intervention program, including motivational interviewing and field trips to parks and convenience stores. Two years after the obesity prevention programs were implemented, evaluations were conducted to track progress. Among overweight youth, the intervention reduced total percentage of body fat and fat mass and increased fat-free mass. Dietary changes were sustained. The study concludes that behavior interventions can lead to sustainable changes in diet and intervention effects.
The study was published online in July by Pediatrics.
