Comprehensive Versus Traditional Lifestyle Program

Not Applicable

Completed

Brief Summary: Despite recommends that school-based interventions use a comprehensive approach for health promotions; most fitness programs exclusively emphasize physical activity. This study compared the comprehensive Translational Health in Nutrition and Kinesiology (THINK) program to a traditional YMCA program (The Sports, Play, and Active Recreation for Kids (SPARK) fitness curriculum) on measures of physical fitness, body composition, and executive cognitive function outcomes among 105 ethnic minority children (9±1.03 years old) following a 10-week intervention period.

Detailed Description: Despite recommendations that school-based interventions use a comprehensive approaches for health promotions; most fitness programs exclusively emphasize physical activity. This study compared the comprehensive Translational Health in Nutrition and Kinesiology (THINK) program to a traditional YMCA program (The Sports, Play, and Active Recreation for Kids (SPARK) fitness curriculum) on measures of physical fitness, body composition, and executive cognitive function outcomes among 105 predominantly, ethnic minority children (9±1.03 years old) following a 10week intervention period.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

To be eligible for this study, subjects had to be between the ages of eight and 12, enrolled in a YMCA program, and able to participate in physical activity. Parents were provided with information packets regarding project details, a parental consent form, and a child assent form. Once the subjects assented and parents consented, a health questionnaire regarding child's age, gender, race/ethnicity, health history and SES was completed.

Exclusion Criteria

Subjects with metabolic, cardiovascular, neuromuscular and psychological disorders and with medications that would interfere with testing results were excluded from the study.

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
SPARK	SPARK	This The Sports, Play, and Active Recreation for Kids (SPARK) group will receive the traditional YMCA SPARK after-school program. They will undergo the same pre and post testing protocol as the intervention group, but will not receive the THINK program.
THINK	THINK	The Translational Health in Nutrition and Kinesiology (THINK) program will have education and fitness sessions lasting two hours, five times a week for a total of 10 weeks. Sessions will include theory, clinical laboratory activities, and physically active games to facilitate a fun environment to enhance physical and health-related fitness, improve nutrition and exercise knowledge and behaviors, and exercise enjoyment and self-confidence.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in Grip Strength	Baseline and 10 Weeks	Grip strength was measures using a Jamar plus handgrip dynamometer.
Change in Abdominal Strength	Baseline and 10 Weeks	The one-minute curl-up test was used to measure abdominal strength and endurance.
Change in Aerobic Fitness	Baseline and 10 Weeks	The National Institute of Medicine Toolbox two-minute Walk Endurance Test was used to measure aerobic fitness
Change in Lower Body Strength	Baseline and 10 Weeks	Lower body strength, specifically for the quadriceps muscle group, was assessed with the wall squat test. A vertical jump test utilizing a Vertec. was used to assess lower body power . The vertical jump test data were used to estimate average power (W) according to the Lewis formula Average Power (W) = √4.9 x mass (kg) x √VJ (m) x 9.81.
Change in Percent Body Fat	Baseline and 10 Weeks	Body composition and body fat was measured using the Inbody-520 multi-frequency bioimpedance analyzer.
Change in BMIz	Baseline and 10 Weeks	A CDC growth chart statistical resource was used to calculate BMIz using height, weight, age, and gender.
Change in Visceral Abdominal Fat	Baseline and 10 Weeks	The Saggital Abdominal Height was used as estimate of visceral abdominal fat using a portable anthropometer.
Change in Waist circumference	Baseline and 10 Weeks	Waist circumference was used to measure central adiposity with a Gulick body tape measure.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method