Improvement of Fitness in Obese Children

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

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.

This 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."

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

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

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)

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

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)

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

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

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.

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

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)

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

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

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