MedPath

Physical Activity on Prescription for Children With Obesity

Not Applicable
Active, not recruiting
Conditions
Obesity, Childhood
Interventions
Behavioral: Physical activity on prescription (PAP)
Registration Number
NCT04847271
Lead Sponsor
Vastra Gotaland Region
Brief Summary

Background: physical inactivity is a main cause of childhood obesity. Physical activity on prescription (PAP) is an evidence-based intervention for adults, but has not been evaluated in children with obesity.

Aim: to evaluate the feasibility of a PAP intervention for children with obesity by assessing both clinical patient outcomes and implementation outcomes.

Method: a single-arm clinical trial in which children with obesity participate in a 4-month PAP intervention. Measurement points are baseline and 4 months, with long-term follow-ups at 8 and 12 months.

Population: children with obesity.

Intervention: physical activity on prescription (PAP).

Patient outcomes: physical activity level/pattern (including sedentary time), BMI, waist circumference, metabolic risk markers, health-related quality of life, self-efficacy for physical activity, motivation for physical activity.

Implementation outcomes: coherence, cognitive participation, collective action, and reflexive monitoring in relation to PAP (the four core constructs of the Normalization Process Theory); appropriateness, acceptability and feasibility of PAP; barriers and facilitators for implementing PAP; recruitment and attrition rates, and intervention fidelity and adherence.

Detailed Description

Physical inactivity is a main cause of childhood obesity which tracks into adulthood obesity, making it important to address early in life. Physical activity on prescription (PAP) is an evidence-based intervention developed in Sweden that has shown good effect on physical activity levels in adults, but has not been evaluated in children with obesity. This clinical study is nested in a larger research project aiming to assess the prerequisites, determinants, and feasibility of implementing PAP adapted to children with obesity in paediatric health care. Children's and parents' experiences of participating in the PAP intervention will also be explored.

In a first, pre-clinical trial, phase, healthcare providers and managers from 26 paediatric clinics in Region Västra Götaland, Sweden, will participate in a web-based survey, and a subset of this sample in a focus group study. Findings from these two data collections will form the basis for further development and adaptation of PAP to the target group and context.

In the project's second phase, this adapted PAP intervention will be evaluated in a clinical study in a sample of approximately 60 children with obesity, between 6 and 12 years of age, and one of their parents/legal guardians. Clinical and implementation outcomes will be assessed pre- and post-intervention, and at 8 and 12 months' follow-up. Clinical outcomes are physical activity level/pattern, BMI, waist circumference, metabolic risk markers (blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, insulin resistance, and triglycerides), quality of life, self-efficacy and motivation for physical activity, and intervention satisfaction. Implementation outcomes are the four core constructs of the Normalization Process Theory; coherence, cognitive participation, collective action, and reflexive monitoring; appropriateness, acceptability and feasibility of the PAP intervention; barriers and facilitators for implementing PAP; recruitment and attrition rates, and intervention fidelity and adherence.

The clinical study is nested in a larger research project employing a hybrid implementation-effectiveness design. Design and analysis of the included studies is guided by the Normalization Process Theory.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
60
Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Physical activity on prescriptionPhysical activity on prescription (PAP)Physical activity on prescription is a behaviour change intervention comprising 3 components: a person-centred pre-intervention dialogue, a written prescription for individually tailored physical activity, and a structured follow-up.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in physical activity level4, 8, 12 months after baseline

Change in time spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity, measured with accelerometry

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in physical activity pattern4, 8, 12 months after baseline

Change in sedentary time, time spent in low, moderate and vigorous physical activity, measured with accelerometry

Intervention acceptabilityPost-intervention at 4 months

Intervention acceptability will be measured with the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ-8)

Change in systolic and diastolic blood pressureBaseline to 12 months

Both systolic and diastolic blood pressure will be measured in mmHg

Change in fasting plasma glucoseBaseline to 12 months

Change in fasting plasma glucose will be measured in mmol/litre

Change in health-related quality of life4, 8, 12 months after baseline

Change in self-reported health-related quality of life, measured with KIDSCREEN-10

Change in triglyceridesBaseline to 12 months

Change in triglycerides will be measured in mmol/litre

Change in high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterolBaseline to 12 months

Change in high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol will be measured in mmol/litre

Change in BMI4, 8, 12 months after baseline

Change in age- and sex adjusted BMI (measured as weight and height combined to BMI). This outcome will also be measured as BMI Standard deviation score (SDS)

Change in self-efficacy for physical activity4, 8, 12 months after baseline

Change in perceived self-efficacy for physical activity, measured with the Self-efficacy for physical activity questionnaire

Change in Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C)Baseline to 12 months

Change in HbA1C will be measured in mmol/litre

Change in motivation for physical activity4, 8, 12 months after baseline

Change in perceived motivation for physical activity, measured with the Motivation for physical activity questionnaire

Change in fasting P-insulinBaseline to 12 months

Change in fasting P-insulin will be measured in mIE/litre

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Regionhälsan, Region Västra Götaland

🇸🇪

Gothenburg, Sweden

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath