Adolescent overweight and obesity have increased dramatically in the past several decades. High schools are well-positioned to deliver weight loss treatment to overweight and obese adolescents, as they have the facilities and staff to deliver a physical activity program, school nurses with the skills to provide counseling, and are easily accessible by adolescents. This exploratory study will test the feasibility and ability of a school-based intervention, consisting of school nurse counseling and a school-based exercise program, to reduce BMI and improve dietary quality, physical activity, and sedentary behaviors in overweight and obese adolescents. If effective, this could prove to be a cost-effective and relatively easy intervention to disseminate widely for significant public health impact.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
126
Six 30-minute individual student-centered counseling sessions delivered by school nurses during the first two months followed by weekly weigh-ins and monthly visits over the subsequent 6 months, plus an exercise program in the school 3 times a week for the full eight months of the intervention.
Six individual sessions with school nurse over the first two months followed by monthly visits over the remaining 6 months to check weight and behavior changes and provide a series of pamphlets on weight and weight management.
University of Massachusetts Medical School
Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
Body Mass Index (BMI)
Lookin Good Feelin Good (LGFG) program participants will achieve greater reduction in BMI z-scores than Information attention control (IC) participants after one academic year (8 months) of intervention
Time frame: One academic year (8 months)
Participation in exercise program
LGFG participants will report greater than 90% adherence to intervention protocol by school nurses on Patient Exit Interview (PEI) checklists following each of the 6 visits and will attend at least 75% of the exercise sessions.
Time frame: One academic year (8 months)
Self-management
LGFG participants will report greater improvements in dietary quality, physical activity and sedentary behavior than IC participants at 8 month follow-up, as measured by 24-hour dietary recall (24HDR), accelerometers, and measures of specific diet, physical activity and sedentary behaviors targeted by the intervention. Improvements will mediate the relationship between condition and BMI.
Time frame: One academic year (8 months)
Physiologic outcomes
To evaluate the effect of the LGFG compared to IC condition on changes in secondary physiologic outcomes, including waist circumference, estimate of body fat, and blood pressure.
Time frame: One academic year (8 months)
Psychosocial outcomes
To evaluate the effect of the LGFG compared to the IC condition on changes in psychosocial outcomes including self-efficacy, quality of life, and depression.
Time frame: One academic year (8 months)
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.