Camp NERF: Methods of a Summer Nutrition Ed Rec & Fitness Program to Prevent Unhealthy Weight Gain in Children

The Ohio State University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Childhood Obesity

Treatments: Behavioral: Standard Care; Behavioral: Enhanced Care; Behavioral: Active Control

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02908230

2014B0197

Details and patient eligibility

About

The primary aims of this research project are to:

1. Evaluate the efficacy of Camp NERF to improve child nutrition, physical activity, mental health, and anthropometric outcomes.
2. Evaluate the efficacy of Camp NERF to improve caregiver self-efficacy for establishing healthy family nutrition and physical activity practices, amount of physical activity, and BMI.
3. Evaluate the efficacy of Camp NERF to improve youth mentor nutrition, physical activity, and anthropometric outcomes.

Full description

Background: The 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.

Methods: Camp 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 grade 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 [4H curricula]); 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.

Discussion: This 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.

Enrollment: 87 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 4 to 12 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria (site level):

• Elementary school; USDA Summer Food Service Program open site; and 3) lacking structured programming

Exclusion Criteria:

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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87 participants in 3 patient groups, including a placebo group

Active Control

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Active Control: exposure to a non-nutrition, physical activity, or mental health curriculum/program

Treatment:

Behavioral: Active Control

Standard Care

Active Comparator group

Description:

Standard Care: exposure to a nutrition and physical activity curriculum/program

Treatment:

Behavioral: Standard Care

Enhanced Care

Experimental group

Description:

Enhanced Care: exposure to a nutrition, physical activity, and mental health curriculum/program

Treatment:

Behavioral: Enhanced Care