Effects of Nutrition and Physical Activity Intervention in Improving Children's BMI-for-Age Percentiles
Description
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), globally 340 million school-aged children are obese. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that 13.7 million (19%) of U.S. children and adolescents age 2-19 years are obese. Obesity rates are 14% in 2- to 5-year-olds, 18% in 6- to 11-year-olds, and 21% in 12- to 19-year-olds. Hispanic children (26%) and non-Hispanic black children (22%) have higher obesity prevalence than non-Hispanic white children (14%). Non-Hispanic Asian children (11%) have lower obesity rates than non-Hispanic black children and Hispanic children. In Arkansas, 22% of school-aged children are obese and 39% are overweight and obese. In Arkadelphia, 19% of school-aged children are obese and 36% are overweight and obese. In Gurdon, 20% of school-aged children are obese and 37% are overweight and obese. Therefore, programs to lower body mass index (BMI) and increase physical activity in children are needed. The purpose of the study was to determine the effectiveness of a nutrition and physical activity intervention in improving the BMI-for-age percentiles of rural Arkansas children at risk for childhood obesity. The study consisted of a treatment group (n=62) and a control group (n=25) of children 2-12 years of age. Anthropometric data for each child in the control and the treatment group was collected at the beginning and the end of the seven-week intervention. Data was used to calculate BMI, BMI-for-age percentile, weight status category, and BMI z-scores. The researchers visited the treatment group weekly and taught 30-60 minute lessons on nutrition and physical activity. The control group did not receive treatment. All data was collated and analyzed to determine the effects of the treatment.
Effects of Nutrition and Physical Activity Intervention in Improving Children's BMI-for-Age Percentiles
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), globally 340 million school-aged children are obese. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that 13.7 million (19%) of U.S. children and adolescents age 2-19 years are obese. Obesity rates are 14% in 2- to 5-year-olds, 18% in 6- to 11-year-olds, and 21% in 12- to 19-year-olds. Hispanic children (26%) and non-Hispanic black children (22%) have higher obesity prevalence than non-Hispanic white children (14%). Non-Hispanic Asian children (11%) have lower obesity rates than non-Hispanic black children and Hispanic children. In Arkansas, 22% of school-aged children are obese and 39% are overweight and obese. In Arkadelphia, 19% of school-aged children are obese and 36% are overweight and obese. In Gurdon, 20% of school-aged children are obese and 37% are overweight and obese. Therefore, programs to lower body mass index (BMI) and increase physical activity in children are needed. The purpose of the study was to determine the effectiveness of a nutrition and physical activity intervention in improving the BMI-for-age percentiles of rural Arkansas children at risk for childhood obesity. The study consisted of a treatment group (n=62) and a control group (n=25) of children 2-12 years of age. Anthropometric data for each child in the control and the treatment group was collected at the beginning and the end of the seven-week intervention. Data was used to calculate BMI, BMI-for-age percentile, weight status category, and BMI z-scores. The researchers visited the treatment group weekly and taught 30-60 minute lessons on nutrition and physical activity. The control group did not receive treatment. All data was collated and analyzed to determine the effects of the treatment.