Translational Health After School Program on Health-Related Knowledge/Behaviors and Exercise Perception (THINK)

The Effects of a Translational Health After School Program on Health-Related Knowledge/Behaviors and Exercise Perception in Minority Children

The aim of this study is to examine the effects of a translational health in nutrition and kinesiology (THINK) after school program on physical variables, nutrition and exercise knowledge base/behaviors, and exercise enjoyment and confidence.

Partnering with the YMCA investigators in the Kinesiology and Sport Sciences department at the University of Miami will set up the after-school THINK program offered three afternoons per week for nine months in two experimental and two control schools. The schools will consist of minority elementary school students (predominantly Hispanic and Black) in the South Florida area. The control schools will receive baseline, mid-year and follow-up testing nine months later, but will not go through the THINK program. They will instead go through their standard YMCA after school Sports, Play, and Active Recreation for Kids (SPARK) program.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Changes in Physical Fitness; Changes in Diet, Food, and Nutrition Habits; Changes in Child Health
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: THINK Program

Detailed Description

Two- thirds of American adults are overweight or obese, and that number continues to rise. Thus, it is not surprising that the prevalence of overweight/obesity has more than doubled in school children and tripled in adolescents. Concomitant with the rise in obesity has been a significant decrease in physical fitness levels (1,2). At least one study has shown the youth of today demonstrate lower aerobic fitness levels than their parents (3). Low aerobic fitness levels are most prevalent among Hispanic and Black (non-Hispanic) minority youth. No doubt the increases in TV viewing, computer time and technology have contributed to the increase in sedentary habits and decline in physical activity levels (4).

The THINK program translates fitness and health-related information into knowledge and skills that children can understand and incorporate into their own personal health and lifestyle behaviors. The program is unique in that it combines educational and hands-on clinical experiences with physical activity and exercise. The goal is to promote healthier, more active children of today who demonstrate improved levels of physical fitness, exercise knowledge, and enjoyment of tomorrow.

Each unit in the THINK program has three components: a seminar on the scientific aspects of a health-related theme, clinical experiences related to the theme, and related physical activities performed in the field. The THINK seminars engage students by getting them up and moving, while asking questions that prompt them to think creatively to come up with their own answers. Clinical experiences reinforce the educational themes allowing children to learn more about their bodies, how it functions, and how it adapts through various movement exercises. Finally, games and enjoyable physical activities round out the program contributing to enhanced motor skill development and improved physical fitness levels.

The THINK program will begin with a series of baseline physical assessments comprising both heath and performance-related physical fitness. Participants will also receive a quiz on nutrition and exercise-related information and two surveys regarding nutritional behaviors and physical activity levels. They will be asked to complete one survey on exercise enjoyment and self-confidence. Parents will also be asked to complete a survey each on their child's nutritional habits. This will be done in two experimental and two control YMCA after school programs comprising primarily minority (Hispanic and Black) participants. Testing will again take place midway through the program and at the conclusion of the program nine months later. The control group will not go through the THINK program but will instead go through the traditional SPARK curriculum.

The purpose of the study is to determine whether the THINK program results in improvements in physical fitness, nutrition and exercise knowledge/habits, and exercise enjoyment and self-confidence above that of the control group.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 73
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Florida
    • Coral Gables, Florida, United States, 33124
      • University of Miami

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 8 years to 12 years (CHILD)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Children in grades 3-5 (aged 8-12)
• enrolled in a YMCA after-school program

Exclusion Criteria:

• Inability to perform physical activity
• Any cardiovascular, metabolic, or neurological disorders that would affect the child's ability to participate in the program or in testing.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: OTHER
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Interventional Model: PARALLEL
• Masking: NONE

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Intervention Group; THINK intervention: The program will have activity and fitness sessions lasting two hours, three times a week for a total of nine months. Sessions will include theory, clinical laboratory activities, and physically active games to facilitate a fun environment to enhance physical and health-related fitness, improve nutrition and exercise knowledge and behaviors, and exercise enjoyment and self-confidence.	Behavioral: THINK Program; Lessons and laboratory sessions will be 60 minutes, followed by physical activity sessions lasting 60 minutes. Laboratory activities include assessing heart rate, making healthy meals, learning portion sizes, brain challenges, and more. To improve physical activity participation, a wide selection of developmentally appropriate and multiculturally sensitive activities will be offered, such as sports, games, obstacle courses, and dance.
No Intervention: Control Group; This group will receive the traditional YMCA SPARK after-school program. They will undergo the same pre, mid, and post testing protocol as the intervention group, but will not receive the THINK program.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Resting Measures	Resting heart rate and blood pressure will be assessed using an automatic blood pressure cuff.	Baseline, at 4 months, and at 9 months
Aerobic fitness	An NIH 2 minute walk test will be used to assess aerobic fitness.	Baseline, at 4 months, and at 9 months
Agility and speed	A shuttle run will be used to assess agility and speed.	Baseline, at 4 months, and at 9 months
Upper-body strength and endurance	A hand-grip dynamometer will be used to assess upper body strength and endurance	Baseline, at 4 months, and at 9 months
Abdominal strength and endurance	A one minute curl-up (sit up) will be used to assess abdominal strength and endurance.	Baseline, at 4 months, and at 9 months
Lower body power	The height of a vertical jump test will be used to assess lower body power.	Baseline, at 4 months, and at 9 months
Flexibility	A lower body sit and reach test will be used to assess flexibility.	Baseline, at 4 months, and at 9 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Body Composition	Electrical impedance and 3 site Skinfolds	Baseline, at 4 months, and at 9 months
Body fat distribution	Waist and hip circumference will be measured	Baseline, at 4 months, and at 9 months
Exercise Enjoyment and Confidence	A modified Exercise Enjoyment Scale and a modified Exercise Self-Confidence Scale will be given	Baseline, at 4 months, and at 9 months
Knowledge/Behaviors/Habits	International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and The CATCH Kids Club questionnaire will be given.	Baseline, at 4 months, and at 9 months
Nutritional survey	A parental survey of family nutrition behaviors will be given and An Exercise Physiology and Nutrition Knowledge Base Test	Baseline, at 4 months, and at 9 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Miami
• Collaborators: Sherman Fairchild Foundation

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 30, 2017
• Primary Completion (Actual): May 30, 2017
• Study Completion (Actual): May 30, 2017

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 1, 2016
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 10, 2016
• First Posted (Estimate): October 13, 2016

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): October 17, 2017
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 13, 2017
• Last Verified: October 1, 2017

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: 20160719

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No