Effective nationwide school-based participatory extramural program on adolescent body mass index, health knowledge and behaviors

Abstract

BackgroundAdolescent obesity is a major public health concern. Open to all high school students regardless of weight status, HealthCorps is a nationwide program offering a comprehensive high school-based participatory educational program to indirectly address obesity. We tested a hypothesis that the HealthCorps program would decrease BMI z-scores among overweight or obese students, and reduce obesity rates, and evaluated its effects on health knowledge and behaviors.MethodsHealthCorps aimed to improve student knowledge and behaviors regarding nutrition quality, physical activity, sleep, breakfast intake, and mental resilience. Participating students received through HealthCorps coordinators weekly or bi-weekly classroom lessons either for a semester or a year in addition to various during- and after-school health-promoting activities and mentorship. Self-reported height and weight were collected along with questionnaires assessing knowledge and behaviors during 2013-2014 academic year among 14 HealthCorps-participating New York City high schools. This quasi experimental two-arm pre-post trial included 611 HealthCorps and 221 comparison arm students for the analytic sample. Sex-specific analyses stratified by weight status were adjusted for age and Hispanic ethnicity with clustering effects of schools and students taken into account.ResultsHealthCorps female overweight/obese and obese student had a significant decrease in BMI z-scores (post-pre delta BMI z-score = −0.16 (95%CI = (−0.26, −0.05), p = 0.004 for the former; and = −0.23 (−0.44, −0.03), p = 0.028, for the latter) whereas comparison female counterparts did not. The HealthCorps students, but not the comparison students, had a significant increase for all knowledge domains except for the breakfast realm, and reported a greater number of significant behavior changes including fruit and vegetable intake and physical activities.ConclusionsThe HealthCorps program was associated with reduced BMI z-score in overweight/obese and obese female adolescents, with enhanced health knowledge and behavior for both sexes. With its wide reach, this may be a promising program to help combat adolescent obesity in schools.Trial registrationThis study is registered as a clinical trial at the ClinicalTrials.gov registry with trial number NCT02277496 on September 10, 2014 (Retrospectively registered).Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12887-017-0975-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Gender differences in the longitudinal association between multilevel latent classes of chronic disease risk behaviours and body mass index in adolescents

“…44,45 Participatory approach programs, which are gaining popularity because of their success, encourage youth to participate and have succeeded at retaining students 46 as well as leading to decreases in BMI. 47 A meta-analysis shows that problem-solving training and techniques from cognitive behavioural therapy were beneficial, as were programs based on a social influences approach that teaches refusal skills. 48 Tailored prevention and intervention programs (such as gender-specific programs) are reportedly more effective than those intended for the general population of youth.…”

Being obese versus trying to lose weight: Relationship with physical inactivity and soda drinking among high school students

“…Nationwide school‐based studies, which include personalized goal setting, health promotion campaigns, environmental changes, and collaboration among stakeholders have achieved modest improvement in some obesity‐related indices . Curricula and tools from these studies and governmental agencies are available to help schools develop local programming related to soda intake, physical activity, and other key behaviors.…”

“…Nationwide school-based studies, which include personalized goal setting, health promotion campaigns, environmental changes, and collaboration among stakeholders have achieved modest improvement in some obesity-related indices. 34,35 Curricula and tools from these studies and governmental agencies are available to help schools develop local programming related to soda intake, physical activity, and other key behaviors. School wellness committees created to comply with the requirement for receiving federal school funding, are positioned to bring together administrators, teachers, students and other stakeholders in the planning process.…”

Correction to: Effective nationwide school-based participatory extramural program on adolescent body mass index, health knowledge and behaviors

“…Following the publication of the original article [ 1 ], it was brought to our attention that author Judith Wylie-Rosett was erroneously included as Judith Wylie.…”

“…The full author’s name and surname is included in the author list of this ‘Correction’ and has been updated in the original article [ 1 ].…”