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Anthropometric Outcomes Related to Self‐satisfaction, Parent and Peer Support in Overweight Youth Participating in a Fitness and Nutrition Themed Summer Camp
Author(s) -
Morton Gretchen,
Schieder Constance,
Kaiser Lucia
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.29.1_supplement.747.23
Subject(s) - overweight , anthropometry , body mass index , medicine , curriculum , nutrition education , demography , waist to height ratio , obesity , gerontology , physical therapy , psychology , waist , endocrinology , pedagogy , sociology
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of environmental support on anthropometric outcomes in overweight and obese youth (n=177, 9‐14 years old) after involvement in a six‐week fitness and nutrition themed summer day camp during the summers 2011, 2012 and 2014, compared to a control camp (n=50). The intervention camp consisted of three hours of weekly nutrition education using validated curriculum (EatFit, MyPlate) taught by nutrition educators. Youth also participated in three hours daily of fitness activities. Parents attended weekly meetings averaging to one hour per week using similar curriculum (Eating Smart Being Active). The control was not exposed to the intervention but attended a general themed camp. Both groups were measured pre‐ and post‐ to determine changes in anthropometric measures, specifically, calculated waist to height ratio (whtr) controlling for body mass index z‐scores (BMI‐z). These quantitative measures were compared to qualitative survey responses related to the youth's environment outside of camp. Significant differences in whtr were observed post‐ between the experimental (‐0.025, p < 0.05) vs. control group (‐0.006, p < 0.05) using Mann‐Whitney U. Spearman's identified a strong correlation between parent encouragement and whtr changes (r = 0.97). Relationships between self‐satisfaction and outcomes also existed. Identification of specific environmental factors influencing changes in health are essential in supporting sustained health changes.