Abstract
Purpose. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of a structured after-school program housed in a large county parks system on participant health and wellness outcomes. Design. Longitudinal cohort study over one school year (fall 2011-spring 2012). Setting. A total of 23 county parks in Florida. Subjects. Children ages 5 to 16 (N=349, 55% non-Hispanic black, 40% Hispanic, mean age 8.9 years). Intervention. An after-school program called Fit-2-Play that integrates daily standardized physical activity and health and wellness education components. Measures. Preintervention (August/September 2011) and postintervention (May/June 2012) anthropometric, systolic/diastolic blood pressure, fitness, and health and wellness knowledge measurements were collected. Analysis. Comparison of pre-post outcome measure means were assessed via general linear mixed models for normal-weight (body mass index [BMI] ,85th percentile for age and sex) and overweight/obese (BMI ≥85th percentile for age and sex) participants. Results. The overweight/obese group significantly decreased their mean (1) BMI z score (2.0 to 1.8, p < .01) and (2) subscapular skinfold measurements (19.4 to 17.5 mm, p < .01) and increased (1) mean laps on the Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run test (10.8 to 12.5, p=.04) and (2) percentage with normal systolic blood pressure (58.1% to 71.0%, p =.03) from pretest to posttest. On average, participants significantly improved their health and wellness knowledge over the school year (p < .01). Normal-weight participants maintained healthy BMI ranges and significantly increased fitness levels. Conclusion. Findings suggest that the Fit-2-Play after-school programs can be a significant resource for combating childhood obesity and instilling positive physical health in children, particularly among ethnic and socioeconomically diverse communities.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 217-225 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | American Journal of Health Promotion |
| Volume | 29 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Mar 1 2015 |
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Keywords
- Adolescents
- Children
- Fitness
- Obesity
- Overweight
- Physical Activity
- Prevention
- Prevention Research
- Youth
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
- Health(social science)
Cite this
Effect of a park-based after-school program on participant obesity-related health outcomes. / Messiah, Sarah; Diego, Allison; Kardys, Jack; Kirwin, Kevin; Hanson, Eric; Nottage, Renae; Ramirez, Shawn; Arheart, Kristopher.
In: American Journal of Health Promotion, Vol. 29, No. 4, 01.03.2015, p. 217-225.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Effect of a park-based after-school program on participant obesity-related health outcomes
AU - Messiah, Sarah
AU - Diego, Allison
AU - Kardys, Jack
AU - Kirwin, Kevin
AU - Hanson, Eric
AU - Nottage, Renae
AU - Ramirez, Shawn
AU - Arheart, Kristopher
PY - 2015/3/1
Y1 - 2015/3/1
N2 - Purpose. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of a structured after-school program housed in a large county parks system on participant health and wellness outcomes. Design. Longitudinal cohort study over one school year (fall 2011-spring 2012). Setting. A total of 23 county parks in Florida. Subjects. Children ages 5 to 16 (N=349, 55% non-Hispanic black, 40% Hispanic, mean age 8.9 years). Intervention. An after-school program called Fit-2-Play that integrates daily standardized physical activity and health and wellness education components. Measures. Preintervention (August/September 2011) and postintervention (May/June 2012) anthropometric, systolic/diastolic blood pressure, fitness, and health and wellness knowledge measurements were collected. Analysis. Comparison of pre-post outcome measure means were assessed via general linear mixed models for normal-weight (body mass index [BMI] ,85th percentile for age and sex) and overweight/obese (BMI ≥85th percentile for age and sex) participants. Results. The overweight/obese group significantly decreased their mean (1) BMI z score (2.0 to 1.8, p < .01) and (2) subscapular skinfold measurements (19.4 to 17.5 mm, p < .01) and increased (1) mean laps on the Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run test (10.8 to 12.5, p=.04) and (2) percentage with normal systolic blood pressure (58.1% to 71.0%, p =.03) from pretest to posttest. On average, participants significantly improved their health and wellness knowledge over the school year (p < .01). Normal-weight participants maintained healthy BMI ranges and significantly increased fitness levels. Conclusion. Findings suggest that the Fit-2-Play after-school programs can be a significant resource for combating childhood obesity and instilling positive physical health in children, particularly among ethnic and socioeconomically diverse communities.
AB - Purpose. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of a structured after-school program housed in a large county parks system on participant health and wellness outcomes. Design. Longitudinal cohort study over one school year (fall 2011-spring 2012). Setting. A total of 23 county parks in Florida. Subjects. Children ages 5 to 16 (N=349, 55% non-Hispanic black, 40% Hispanic, mean age 8.9 years). Intervention. An after-school program called Fit-2-Play that integrates daily standardized physical activity and health and wellness education components. Measures. Preintervention (August/September 2011) and postintervention (May/June 2012) anthropometric, systolic/diastolic blood pressure, fitness, and health and wellness knowledge measurements were collected. Analysis. Comparison of pre-post outcome measure means were assessed via general linear mixed models for normal-weight (body mass index [BMI] ,85th percentile for age and sex) and overweight/obese (BMI ≥85th percentile for age and sex) participants. Results. The overweight/obese group significantly decreased their mean (1) BMI z score (2.0 to 1.8, p < .01) and (2) subscapular skinfold measurements (19.4 to 17.5 mm, p < .01) and increased (1) mean laps on the Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run test (10.8 to 12.5, p=.04) and (2) percentage with normal systolic blood pressure (58.1% to 71.0%, p =.03) from pretest to posttest. On average, participants significantly improved their health and wellness knowledge over the school year (p < .01). Normal-weight participants maintained healthy BMI ranges and significantly increased fitness levels. Conclusion. Findings suggest that the Fit-2-Play after-school programs can be a significant resource for combating childhood obesity and instilling positive physical health in children, particularly among ethnic and socioeconomically diverse communities.
KW - Adolescents
KW - Children
KW - Fitness
KW - Obesity
KW - Overweight
KW - Physical Activity
KW - Prevention
KW - Prevention Research
KW - Youth
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84925010544&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84925010544&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.4278/ajhp.120705-QUAN-327
DO - 10.4278/ajhp.120705-QUAN-327
M3 - Article
C2 - 24460001
AN - SCOPUS:84925010544
VL - 29
SP - 217
EP - 225
JO - American Journal of Health Promotion
JF - American Journal of Health Promotion
SN - 0890-1171
IS - 4
ER -