This study observes fitness level and health parameters in children ages 6-12 years old with obesity using an exercise class intervention.
The purpose of this study is to improve physical fitness and health parameters in elementary-aged children who participate in an academic weight loss clinic. Patients and their parents are randomly assigned to either take exercise classes or to continue standard care (control group). Exercise classes are run at a local church 3 times a week for 8 weeks and children and parents are expected to participate. Parents are expected to follow similar dietary and exercise recommendations which are given to their children. Vitals, lab work and fitness testing are done on children at beginning, middle and end of the 6- month study. Vitals are done on parents at the beginning, middle and end of the study. Children are given Fitbits to record sleep patterns and daily physical activity.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
26
Same as above.
Same as above.
Penn State Hershey Medical Center
Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States
Change in amount of Fitness in Obese Children as measured by daily physical activity via Fitbit
measurement of amount of daily physical activity (in minutes) hours) as measured by daily physical activity via Fitbit
Time frame: 8 weeks and 6 months
Program attendance by the child and parent in the exercise class arm
Class attendance will be taken at each class that is held 3x/week for 8 weeks
Time frame: 8 weeks
Change in intensity of daily activity in obese children
measurement of intensity of daily activity measured by minutes of elevated heart rate via Fitbit
Time frame: 8 weeks and 6 months
Change in sleep in obese children
measurement of amount of sleep measured in hours via Fitbit
Time frame: 8 weeks and 6 months
Metabolic parameters of children with obesity: Body Mass Index (BMI)
Height (in centimeters) and weight (in kilograms) will be measured by nurses at the Pediatric Weight Management Clinic. Height and weight will be combined to report Body Mass Index (BMI) in kg/m2
Time frame: 8 weeks and 6 months
Metabolic parameters of children with obesity: blood pressure
Blood pressure will be measured by nurses at the Pediatric Weight Management Clinic and reported as systolic blood pressure over diastolic blood pressure measured in millimeter of mercury (mmHg)
Time frame: 8 week and 6 months
Metabolic parameters of children with obesity: resting heart rate
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Resting heart rate will be measured by nurses at the Pediatric Weight Management Clinic in beats per minute (BPM)
Time frame: 8 weeks and 6 months
Metabolic parameters of children with obesity: Blood glucose (sugar)
Lab work will be obtained to check fasting blood glucose in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL)
Time frame: 8 weeks and 6 months
Metabolic parameters of children with obesity: Cholesterol (Lipid Panel)
Lab work will be obtained to check a fasting lipid panel, which includes total cholesterol (in milligrams per deciliter), LDL cholesterol (in milligrams per deciliter), HDL cholesterol (in milligrams per deciliter) and triglycerides (in milligrams per deciliter)
Time frame: 8 weeks and 6 months
Metabolic parameters of children with obesity: Insulin level
Lab work will be obtained to check fasting insulin level (in u International Units per milliliter)
Time frame: 8 weeks and 6 months
Metabolic parameters of children with obesity: Hemoglobin A1c levels
Lab work will be obtained to check hemoglobin A1c level (in percent of total hemoglobin)
Time frame: 8 weeks and 6 months
Metabolic parameters of children with obesity: Liver Function Tests (LFTs)
Lab work will be obtained to check liver function tests, including Aspartate Aminotransferase (in Units per liter) and Alanine Transaminase (in Units per liter)
Time frame: 8 weeks and 6 months
Depression measurements in children with obesity
The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-DC) will be used to measure depressive symptoms in children. The scale ranges from 0-60; higher scores suggest greater prevalence of depressive symptoms
Time frame: 8 weeks and 6 months
Motivation of children with obesity and their parents
A survey will be distributed to the children and their parents at the beginning of their participation of the study, at the end of the 8-week exercise class period, and 6 months after enrollment. The survey will explore physical activity history and goals.
Time frame: 8 weeks and 6 months
Fitness Testing of children with obesity
All children in the study will be asked to complete a 6-minute fitness walking test (measured in feet) prior to the start of the study, at the end of the 8-week exercise class period, and 6 months after enrollment
Time frame: 8 weeks and 6 months
Amount of sleep in children
Amount of sleep will be measured in hours via Fitbit
Time frame: daily for 6 months
Parental vital signs: blood pressure
Blood pressure will be measured by nurses at the Pediatric Weight Management Clinic and reported as systolic blood pressure over diastolic blood pressure measured in millimeter of mercury (mmHg)
Time frame: 8 weeks and 6 months
Parental vital signs: heart rate
Resting heart rate will be measured nurses at the Pediatric Weight Management Clinic in beats per minute (BPM)
Time frame: 8 weeks and 6 months
Parental vital signs: Body Mass Index (BMI)
Height (in centimeters) and weight (in kilograms) will be measured by nurses at the Pediatric Weight Management Clinic. Height and weight will be combined to report Body Mass Index (BMI) in kg/m2
Time frame: 8 weeks and 6 months