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Kids N Fitness: A Family-Centered Lifestyle Intervention for Overweight Youth

An Evidence-Based Practice

Description

Kids N Fitness (KNF) is a family-centered, lifestyle intervention which aims to reduce risk factors for metabolic syndrome in overweight youth (high BMI, impaired fasting glucose, and low physical activity). KNF seeks to address these health concerns through actively changing eating and exercise habits in overweight youth.

There are two essential components to each 90-minute KNF session which take place once per week over 12 weeks. These sessions are facilitated by two physicians, four dietitians and one social worker.The first component is a 45-minute exercise session during which the children play dodge ball, jump rope, and run to promote moderate to vigorous aerobic activity. In this same session, parents attend seminars on negative effects of obesity and the positive effects of a healthy diet and lifestyle. The second component is a 45-minute family-centered collaboration between children, parents and a registered dietitian in which practical topics regarding nutrition and healthy eating are discussed in detail, such as goal setting. KNF was initially developed and facilitated by Children’s Hospital Los Angeles in 2000 to specifically improve eating and exercise patterns in youth to prevent weight gain.

Goal / Mission

Given the increased prevalence among youth of obesity and Type II Diabetes Mellitus (DM) in the last 25 years, the goal of Kids N Fitness is to reduce risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome in overweight youth through a family-oriented lifestyle intervention.

Impact

These positive health outcomes indicate that a family-centered lifestyle intervention can improve metabolic health among youth.

Results / Accomplishments

Kids N Fitness was evaluated through an experimental study to determine if the intervention changed the metabolic health of the participants. The program recruited 109 youth; however there was a 46% drop out rate throughout the program. Of those who continued the program, 43 were able to provide the post-program outcome measures. The baseline measures of the youth were used as controls and the post-program measures were used as the experiment/treatment group.

The study found significant decreases in BMI (p<0.005), leptin level (p<0.05), systolic BP (p<0.05), total cholesterol (p<0.005), LDL cholesterol (p<0.05), triglycerides (p<0.05), and 2-hour postprandial glucose levels (p<0.05) after participation in the program. Additionally, improvements in emotionally well-bring was positively correlated with weight loss (p<0.005).

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
Children's Hospital of Los Angeles
Primary Contact
Brenda Manzanarez
Division of Endocrinology & Metabolism at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
323-361-8245
bmanzanarez@chla.usc.edu
http://www.chla.org/
Topics
Health / Physical Activity
Health / Children's Health
Organization(s)
Children's Hospital of Los Angeles
Date of publication
2006
Date of implementation
2002
Location
Los Angeles, CA
For more details
Target Audience
Children, Teens
Submitted By
Vidya Balakrishnan, Vivian Lei, Nancy Nasrawin - UC Berkeley School of Public Health