Preventing Weight Gain and Unhealthy Behaviors in Children

An Intervention to Prevent Weight Gain and Unhealthy Behaviors in Children From Economically Disadvantaged Circumstances

This study will address engagement in unhealthy behaviors, low levels of self-regulation, and unhealthy weight gain for children from low-income households.

Evidence suggests that components within structured days (e.g., school days) have a positive influence on children's obesogenic behaviors (i.e., diet, sleep, physical activity, sedentary behaviors) and self-regulation. In this pilot study children will be randomized to two arms: attend a structured summer camp, not attend a camp. The investigators hypothesize that children attending the summer camp will engage in more healthy obesogenic behaviors, display higher levels of self-regulation, and subsequently will experience less weight gain than children not attending the summer camp. To test this hypothesis the following specific aims will be accomplished: Aim 1 (Primary): Compare changes in BMI z-scores and fitness among children from low-income households attending a structured summer day camp and those not attending a structured summer day camp. Aim 2 (Secondary): Compare changes in obesogenic behaviors among children attending a structured summer day camp and those not attending a structured summer day camp. Aim 3 (Exploratory): Explore changes in self-regulation and the moderating effect of these changes on primary and secondary outcomes among children attending and not attending a structured summer day camp.

The control children will not receive an intervention of any kind and will be asked to go about their summer as they typically would.

The intervention camps will operate according to routine practice, with no assistance from the investigative team. The camps provide indoor and outdoor opportunities for children to be physically active each day, provide enrichment and academic programming, as well as provide breakfast, lunch, and snacks. All camp meals will adhere to the United States Department of Agriculture Summer Food Service Program nutrition guidelines. The camps employ 1 staff member for every 12 children - which is consistent with childcare regulations in the state of operation and operate daily (Mon-Fri) for 8 weeks during the summer. The camps open at 7am and close 6 pm daily.

End of school year (start of summer - baseline), beginning (3 month) and end of the following school year (12 month)

End of school year (start of summer - baseline), beginning (3 month) and end of the following school year (12 month)

Time (minutes per day) spent in sedentary, light, moderate, and vigorous physical activity will be collected using a wrist-placed ActiGraph Link on the non-dominant hand for 9 days (a common timeframe to collect a minimum of 4 to 7 valid days).

Child screen time (minutes per day) will be assessed using a parent-proxy self-report measure completed daily for 9 days by the parent with their child.

Number of healthy and unhealthy foods consumed will be assessed via parent-assisted established dietary screeners

Inclusion Criteria: participants will be boys and girls that attend one of the participating schools indicates "yes' on an informed consent document for participation in the study Exclusion Criteria: diagnosis of an intellectual disability, such as Down Syndrome, Fragile X, Fetal Alcohol and/or a physical disability, such as wheelchair use, that prevents the ability to ambulate without assistance. children who plan to enroll in a summer camp during the year that they participate in the study will also be excluded from the study. No other exclusion criteria will be used.

Weaver RG, Armstrong B, Adams E, Beets M, White J, Flory K, Wilson D, Mclain A, Tennie B. Feasibility & Preliminary Efficacy of Structured Programming and a Parent Intervention to Mitigate Accelerated Summer BMI Gain: A pilot study. Res Sq. 2022 Mar 29:rs.3.rs-1466063. doi: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-1466063/v1. Preprint.