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Nutrition and Youth Soccer for Childhood Overweight: A Pilot Novel Chiropractic Health Education Intervention

Abstract Objective The purpose of this pilot novel chiropractic health education intervention was to gather preliminary evidence regarding possible benefits from recreational youth soccer and nutrition education in overweight women. A secondary purpose was to determine whether some nutrition knowled...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics 2008-07, Vol.31 (6), p.434-441
Main Authors: Leach, Robert A., DC, MS, Yates, Joyce M., EdD
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Abstract Objective The purpose of this pilot novel chiropractic health education intervention was to gather preliminary evidence regarding possible benefits from recreational youth soccer and nutrition education in overweight women. A secondary purpose was to determine whether some nutrition knowledge is an independent predictor of changes in body mass index (BMI). Methods A quiz developed and validated on separate age and sex appropriate blinded cohorts was used on study participants—22 volunteers of 57 eligible fourth-grade, overweight female Mississippi public school students. At the beginning of a 5-month study period, a 15-minute baseline nutrition intervention, grounded in Social Cognitive Theory and based on the United States Department of Agriculture's “My Tips for Families” information, was applied in a chiropractic clinic. Subjects were then randomized to 2 months of recreational soccer (n = 14) or waiting list control (n = 8). Results No preintervention differences were found in height, weight, BMI, or age. Higher follow-up BMI scores were found in both groups, and no significant differences between groups were found, possibly because of the small sample sizes and the short 8-week soccer intervention period. Gains in nutrition knowledge were sustained ( P < .002); however, there was no association between nutrition knowledge and follow-up BMI ( r = −.185; P < .462). Conclusions Minimal nutrition education alone may be an ineffective intervention for overweight children. The study provides an example of how youth soccer may benefit overweight children.
ISSN:0161-4754
1532-6586
DOI:10.1016/j.jmpt.2008.06.003