Camp NERF: methods of a theory-based nutrition education recreation and fitness program aimed at preventing unhealthy weight gain in underserved elementary children during summer months

Abstract

BackgroundThe number of obese children in the US remains high, which is problematic due to the mental, physical, and academic effects of obesity on child health. Data indicate that school-age children, particularly underserved children, experience unhealthy gains in BMI at a rate nearly twice as fast during the summer months. Few efforts have been directed at implementing evidence-based programming to prevent excess weight gain during the summer recess.MethodsCamp NERF is an 8-week, multi-component (nutrition, physical activity, and mental health), theory-based program for underserved school-age children in grades Kindergarten - 5th coupled with the USDA Summer Food Service Program. Twelve eligible elementary school sites will be randomized to one of the three programming groups: 1) Active Control (non-nutrition, physical activity, or mental health); 2) Standard Care (nutrition and physical activity); or 3) Enhanced Care (nutrition, physical activity, and mental health) programming. Anthropometric, behavioral, and psychosocial data will be collected from child-caregiver dyads pre- and post-intervention. Site-specific characteristics and process evaluation measures will also be collected.DiscussionThis is the first, evidence-based intervention to address the issue of weight gain during the summer months among underserved, school-aged children. Results from this study will provide researchers, practitioners, and public health professionals with insight on evidence-based programming to aid in childhood obesity prevention during this particular window of risk.Trial Registration NCT02908230/09-19-2016

Scaling‐up evidence‐based obesity interventions: A systematic review assessing intervention adaptations and effectiveness and quantifying the scale‐up penalty

“…From these searches, initially 21 studies were identified as eligible; however, 11 studies were subsequently excluded at the data‐extraction phase for various reasons: The efficacy trials for the PEACH QLD study and the Active‐For‐Life study reported within‐group improvement—but no between‐group difference—on measures of weight status between the trial arms postintervention; Action Schools! BC, TXT2BFiT, and the YOG‐Obesity studies found no significant difference on a measure of weight status in the pre–scale‐up RCT; Camp NERF had no available data for the pre–scale‐up RCT; CHAT and PASOS had no follow‐up outcome data (authors of these studies were contacted; however, no follow‐up data were able to be supplied); the original pre–scale‐up trial of EPODE was a non‐RCT design; Healthy and Vital did not include a measure of weight status, physical activity, or nutrition as its primary outcome measure; and finally, SHED‐IT tested an additional component in the larger trial where both control and intervention arms received SHED‐IT while the intervention arm also received a weight loss maintenance programme.…”

First year physical activity findings from turn up the HEAT (Healthy Eating and Activity Time) in summer day camps

“…Previous interventions have targeted specific sub-groups, such as overweight or obese children [12–14] or low income adolescent girls [10] and were created and operated by research personnel [41, 42]. While these interventions have been shown to positively influence health behaviors, their reach and sustainability over time is limited (i.e., once the grant funding ends the camp ends).…”

Feasibility and acceptability of technology-based caregiver engagement strategies delivered in a summertime childhood obesity prevention intervention: results from an internal pilot of the Camp NERF (Nutrition, Education, Recreation, and Fitness) study

“…This was an internal pilot of the 2015 Camp Nutrition Education Recreation and Fitness (NERF) study, an 8-week pre-test, post-test group RCT to prevent unintended, unhealthy weight gain during the summer months in underserved school-aged children [ 13 ]. Briefly, Camp NERF was a multi-component nutrition, physical activity, and mental health education intervention coupled to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), specifically open sites located at public elementary schools.…”

“…Caregivers enrolled in the Enhanced Care arm of the main RCT ( n = 37) were invited to participate in the current pilot via the baseline caregiver assessment form which was administered as part of the main RCT [ 13 ]. Technology-based approaches—texting and social media—for engaging caregivers were selected based on their appropriateness for the target population [ 14 ] and included a texting program that utilized a mass messaging platform (TextIt) [ 15 ] and social media.…”

“…The target population was underserved minority children entering kindergarten through fifth grade and their adult caregiver from underserved neighborhoods in Columbus, Ohio [ 13 ].…”