Wise Mind Project: A School‐based Environmental Approach for Preventing Weight Gain in Children

Abstract

Mind project: a school-based environmental approach for preventing weight gain in children. Obesity. 2007;15: 906 -917. Objective: The Wise Mind pilot study compared the efficacy of an environmental approach for prevention of inappropriate weight gain in children with an active control condition that used an environmental approach for modifying expectancies related to the use of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs. Research Methods and Procedures:A total of 670 second to sixth grade students from four schools were enrolled in the study. The study spanned 2 academic years, and 586 students were available for evaluation at the end of the study. Two schools were randomly assigned to each treatment arm. The environmental approach for weight gain prevention focused on modification of eating habits and physical activity, and the active control group focused on modification of expectancies related to substance use. Results: Using an intention to treat design, the study found no differences in weight gain prevention between the two interventions. The weight gain prevention program was associated with reduction of total caloric intake, reduction of dietary fat intake, reduction of protein intake, and increased physical activity in comparison with the active control group and relative to baseline. These changes in food intake were attributed to changes in food selections that resulted from modification of school cafeteria menus and food preparation. Discussion: The Wise Mind school-based weight gain prevention program induced behavioral changes in healthy eating and physical activity but did not induce significant changes in body weight in comparison with the control arm. Recommendations for future research are provided.

Childhood obesity: prevention and strategies of intervention. A systematic review of school-based interventions in primary schools

“…If we exclude these nine studies with only one intervention (only diet, only physical activity, only lifestyle modification) [49-52, 59, 61, 62, 73, 77], the others 26 studies were based on multilevel approach (combined diet and physical activity, and/or behaviors nutritional programs). Interventions based on physical activity and nutritional programs were 12 [43, 46, 53, 54, 57, 60, 66-68, 74, 76, 78]; results from these studies showed: no effects in 5 [54,68,74,76,78], reduction of BMI in one study [53], reduction of percentage of body fat in two studies [57,60] and finally reduction of incidence or prevalence of overweight in 4 studies [43,46,66,67]. In the others studies, multilevel interventions were carried out together with healthy lifestyle education programme.…”

Evaluating Parents and Adult Caregivers as “Agents of Change” for Treating Obese Children: Evidence for Parent Behavior Change Strategies and Research Gaps

“…150,151 One pediatric pilot study examined the acceptability of a mobile phone intervention, adherence, and attrition in a 3-group design study. 152 Fifty-eight children, 5 to 13 years of age and their parents were randomized to a mobile phone with short messaging service (SMS), a paper diary, or no diary control condition.…”

A School-Based Alcohol, Tobacco, and Drug Prevention Program for Children: The Wise Mind Study

“…In our reporting of the outcomes for the obesity prevention program (Williamson et al 2007), we note that children in the HEE intervention showed significant increases in physical activity as compared to the ATD children. Very recent evidence shows that physical activity and smoking share a negative linear association (Kaczynski et al 2008;Leatherdale et al 2008).…”

“…The goals of the HEE program were compatible with conventional physical activity and nutrition recommendations (Bray 2002). Detailed results of the HEE program outcomes on changes in weight, physical activity, and diet are discussed elsewhere (Williamson et al 2007). …”