Effects of an Occupation-Based Obesity Prevention Program for Children at Risk

Abstract

Since the prevalence of obesity-related medical conditions in children and adolescents has increased over the past several years obesity prevention has become a vital need for our society and a focus of our professional practice. The primary aim of this pilot study was to increase children's experiences with physical activity and healthy foods to promote self-efficacy related to a healthy lifestyle. Using a pre- and posttest design, the Healthy Choices for Me program was evaluated for its efficacy. Intervention consisted of a 12-week after-school program implemented by occupational therapy students. Elementary-aged children from two lower social economic schools in an urban area participated in the program. Results demonstrated positive changes in food behavior, food self-efficacy, and vegetable consumption for the participants.

Motivational Interviewing in an Obesity Prevention Program for Children

“…After-school programs have the potential to reach millions of children, as academic programming may make it difficult to implement health programming during school hours (Afterschool Alliance, 2013; Amis, Wright, Dyson, Vardaman, & Ferry, 2012). For example, Lau, Stevens, and Jia (2013) found improvements in attitudes related to physical exercise and healthy eating, following a 12-week after-school obesity prevention program. Madsen et al (2009) showed that an after-school obesity prevention program improved student fitness and reduced obesity.…”

Clinical and School-based Intervention strategies for Youth Obesity Prevention: A systematic Review

“…Studies from the school/community sector do not automatically consider BMI with age and sex in their anthropometric measurement (e.g., BMI z-score, BMI percentile). Two studies do not consider anthropometric measurement in their outcomes 36,42 and two others consider only BMI (not for age and sex) 45,55 . Further considering the 34 studies with anthropometric measurements, 23 are based on a measurement related to BMI or abdominal circumferences (e.g., BMI score, waist circumference).…”

“…Nevertheless, some studies showed only effects on part of the population 21,29 , or "mixed effects" 19,37,52 . Of the 10 remaining studies, which did not clearly show an effect on BMI, 9 had, at least, a significant influence on health factors 32,36,39,40,42,45,50,53,54 (e.g., physical, psychological or nutritional ones). To illustrate, Smith et al 53 showed that "significant intervention effects were found for screen time (mean  SE: -30  10.08min/d; p=.03), sugar-sweetened beverage consumption (mean: -0.6  0.26 glass/d; P=.01)".…”

“…For example, Larsen et al 44 selected "One hundred fifteen 11-13 year-old children with overweight and obesity" and Wright et al 21 mentioned "Students (n=251) were English or Spanish speaking, had a BMI > the 85 th percentile". Majority of the studies (27) 19,20,[27][28][29][30][31][32][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42]45,46,[48][49][50][51][52][53][54]57,58 , tend toward a relatively primary prevention of obesity, and do not target a population that is necessarily overweight or obese, but an entire population. For example, Lau et al 45 mentioned "the average BMI was 17, which was within a healthy range".…”

“…As an example, Erfle et al 38 reported "30 minutes of daily PE throughout 1 academic year" and Santos et al 20 "performed during the 2009-2010 school year". Of the 17 remaining with a shorter duration, 14 of them spend 6 month or less 15,21,28,30,33,34,36,40,[42][43][44][45]49,56 .…”