Childhood obesity is of tremendous concern and public health approaches are necessary to address the problem. Existing school-based programs promoting physical activity that have demonstrated appeal for children may provide a cost-effective means of addressing obesity among children of diverse backgrounds.
This study will assess the impact of a national, community-based after-school program promoting physical activity (America SCORES) on obesity, fitness and important cardiovascular risk factors among minority children. Our central hypothesis is that established community-based programs, such as America SCORES, can reduce obesity and cardiovascular risk among participants. The 2-year study will follow 100 children, half of whom will be randomized to SCORES and half to an academically focused after-school program in public schools. Primary outcomes are change in body mass index (BMI), physical activity (measured by accelerometer), and fitness (aerobic capacity assessed with the 20-meter shuttle test). Cardiovascular outcomes include blood pressure, body composition (assessed using bioelectrical impedance) and waist circumference. We will also measure academic outcomes.
Ultimately, our goal is to provide evidence-based solutions to pediatric obesity that might inform policy to reduce future health disparities and make healthy after-school programming available to children most at-risk.
Principal Investigator : Kristine Madsen, MD, MPH
Other Investigators : Pat Crawford, DrPH, RD (U.C. Berkeley); Charles McCulloch, PhD; Jeanne Tschann, PhD; Elizabeth Ozer, PhD; Hannah Thompson, MPH
Funding Source: This study is funded by grants from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD 1K23HD054470-01) and the American Heart Association (0865005F).
Funding Period: NICHD 7/2007 – 6/2012; AHA 7/2008 – 6/2010