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Improvement of Fitness in Obese Children

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Pediatric Obesity
Interventions
Other: Home exercise
Other: Exercise class
Registration Number
NCT03483454
Lead Sponsor
Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Brief Summary

This study observes fitness level and health parameters in children ages 6-12 years old with obesity using an exercise class intervention.

Detailed Description

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.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
26
Inclusion Criteria
  • Child must be a patient at the Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital Pediatric Multidisciplinary Weight Loss Program
  • Child must be ages 6-12 years old
Exclusion Criteria
  • Lack of transportation to exercise classes
  • Parents do not agree to participate in the exercise classes

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Home exerciseHome exerciseThis group of children and their parents will participate in exercise at home for 8 weeks. This is currently the standard of care in the weight management clinic (advise to continue increasing activity at home). This group is considered the "control group."
Exercise classesExercise classThis group of children and their parents will participate in an exercise class for 8 weeks.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Program attendance by the child and parent in the exercise class arm8 weeks

Class attendance will be taken at each class that is held 3x/week for 8 weeks

Change in sleep in obese children8 weeks and 6 months

measurement of amount of sleep measured in hours via Fitbit

Change in amount of Fitness in Obese Children as measured by daily physical activity via Fitbit8 weeks and 6 months

measurement of amount of daily physical activity (in minutes) hours) as measured by daily physical activity via Fitbit

Change in intensity of daily activity in obese children8 weeks and 6 months

measurement of intensity of daily activity measured by minutes of elevated heart rate via Fitbit

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Metabolic parameters of children with obesity: Cholesterol (Lipid Panel)8 weeks and 6 months

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)

Metabolic parameters of children with obesity: Hemoglobin A1c levels8 weeks and 6 months

Lab work will be obtained to check hemoglobin A1c level (in percent of total hemoglobin)

Metabolic parameters of children with obesity: Liver Function Tests (LFTs)8 weeks and 6 months

Lab work will be obtained to check liver function tests, including Aspartate Aminotransferase (in Units per liter) and Alanine Transaminase (in Units per liter)

Depression measurements in children with obesity8 weeks and 6 months

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

Amount of sleep in childrendaily for 6 months

Amount of sleep will be measured in hours via Fitbit

Parental vital signs: heart rate8 weeks and 6 months

Resting heart rate will be measured nurses at the Pediatric Weight Management Clinic in beats per minute (BPM)

Parental vital signs: Body Mass Index (BMI)8 weeks and 6 months

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

Metabolic parameters of children with obesity: Body Mass Index (BMI)8 weeks and 6 months

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

Metabolic parameters of children with obesity: Blood glucose (sugar)8 weeks and 6 months

Lab work will be obtained to check fasting blood glucose in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL)

Metabolic parameters of children with obesity: Insulin level8 weeks and 6 months

Lab work will be obtained to check fasting insulin level (in u International Units per milliliter)

Metabolic parameters of children with obesity: blood pressure8 week and 6 months

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)

Metabolic parameters of children with obesity: resting heart rate8 weeks and 6 months

Resting heart rate will be measured by nurses at the Pediatric Weight Management Clinic in beats per minute (BPM)

Parental vital signs: blood pressure8 weeks and 6 months

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)

Motivation of children with obesity and their parents8 weeks and 6 months

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.

Fitness Testing of children with obesity8 weeks and 6 months

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

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Penn State Hershey Medical Center

🇺🇸

Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States

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