The Role of Ethnicity in School-Based Obesity Intervention for School-Aged Children: A Pilot Evaluation

Background: Rates of obesity have risen disproportionately for ethnic minority youth in the United States. School-based programs may be the most comprehensive and cost-effective way to implement primary prevention in children. In this study we evaluated the effect of a school-based obesity preventio...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of school health 2016-11, Vol.86 (11), p.778
Main Authors: Karczewski, Sabrina A, Carter, Jocelyn S, DeCator, Draycen D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
African American Students
Body Composition
Body Weight
Control Groups
Ethnicity
Health Behavior
Health Promotion
Hispanic American Students
Illinois (Chicago)
Incidence
Intervention
Low Income
Minority Group Students
Multiple Regression Analysis
Obesity
Prevention
Program Descriptions
Program Effectiveness
Role
Urban Areas
Urban Schools
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Summary:Background: Rates of obesity have risen disproportionately for ethnic minority youth in the United States. School-based programs may be the most comprehensive and cost-effective way to implement primary prevention in children. In this study we evaluated the effect of a school-based obesity prevention on the outcome of body mass index percentile (BMI%), with baseline weight class and ethnicity examined as moderators. Methods: Participants (N = 125), ages 7-11 (56% female) from 4 urban, low-income, ethnic minority (58% black, 42% Latino) schools were recruited. Two schools received the Urban Initiatives Work to Play health intervention, and 2 demographically matched schools served as wait-list controls. Results: Hierarchical multiple regression was used to analyze the independent and interactive effects of key variables on BMI%. An interaction between intervention status and ethnicity revealed Latino youth in the intervention had lower BMI% than those in the control group. Participation did not cause BMI% outcomes to decrease for black participants. Conclusions: The study demonstrates the intervention is effective, but that the effectiveness varies across ethnicity. Interventions can be made more efficient and cost-effective by targeting youth of a common ethnicity that has shown empirical responsiveness to certain program elements.
ISSN:0022-4391
DOI:10.1111/josh.12433/full