Project GRIT (Growth, Resilience, Insights, Thrive): a pilot intervention study to prevent childhood obesity

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: childhood obesity; Diet and Nutrition - Obesity; Public Health - Health promotion/education; Metabolic and Endocrine - Normal metabolism and endocrine development and function

• Registration Number: ACTRN12618001249246
• Lead Sponsor: Bond University

Brief Summary

In children and adolescents poor diet quality and sedentary lifestyle is common. This study aimed to test whether a group-based lifestyle intervention in a non-institutional setting could improve fitness, diet quality and self-concept in sedentary children and adolescents. Thirty-eight children or adolescents (average age of 11 years, 53% were male and 47% were female) took part in this 12-week lifestyle intervention which included exercise, diet and psychology components. Twenty-four (63%) participants completed the study and no serious adverse events were reported. In the participants who completed the study, measures of fitness did not significantly improve. Participants who completed the study did significantly improve measures of diet quality, including an increased intake in the percentage of their dietary calories that came from healthy foods. Participants who completed the study also significantly improved their self-concept (a measure of their self-identity), including their self-identity around physical appearance and attributes. This feasibility study was limited by not having a control group and a small sample size.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Results First Posted: 1900-01-01
• Study Start: 2018-07-24
• Study Completion: 2018-10-22
• Last Update Posted: 12 July 2021

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 38

Inclusion Criteria

The following inclusion criteria will apply:
Child aged 9 (but turning 10 in 2018) – 15 years.
Parent(s) and child able to commit to a 12-week program with at least 80% attendance of all Project GRIT sessions.
Inactive child (self-reported).
Consent of supportive parent or guardian to help implement lifestyle changes.
Approval by child's usual GP for the child to participate in intense exercise and VO2max testing.

Exclusion Criteria

The following exclusion criteria will apply:
Known diagnosis of learning disorder and/or medical condition with which the staff involved or research team cannot provide sufficient support for, including: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Autism, Asperger Syndrome, Tourette Syndrome or Bipolar Disorder.
Known diagnosis with a medical condition which is a contraindication for participation in high-intensity exercise including: hypertension as defined by systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure equal to or greater than the 95th percentile measured upon three or more occasions; history or evidence of cardiac abnormalities or family history of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy; hypercholesterolemia; family history of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy; chronic disease including but not limited to kidney disease, chronic asthma, diabetes (type I or II); orthopaedic or neurological disorder which limits physical activity; pulmonary disease.
Current smoker.
Use of steroid medications.

Study & Design

• Study Type: Interventional
• Study Design: Not specified