Efficacy of the Athletes for Life Program to Promote Cardiovascular Health (AFL)

San Diego State University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Cardiovascular Fitness; Physical Activity

Treatments: Behavioral: Wait-List Control; Behavioral: AFL Intervention

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03761589

14SDG20490382

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study was to test the efficacy of a fitness- and behavioral-focused intervention, Athletes for Life (AFL), to improve cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) among 160 underserved families.

Full description

The Athletes for Life (AFL) study was a 12-week randomized controlled trial designed to promote cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and healthy lifestyle changes among parents and children. The original enrollment target was 160 families. A total of 149 parent-child dyads living in a Southwestern U.S. metropolitan area were enrolled in the study. AFL consisting of 24 structured, twice-weekly 90-min family-based, nutrition and sport/fitness-oriented sessions, and was delivered in a municipal recreation center. Behavior change, including increased physical activity, and adherence were motivated through positive reinforcement techniques. Families were randomized to either the AFL program or a wait-list control group.

Enrollment: 149 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 6 to 11 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Parent ages 18 years and over
• Child ages 6-11 years

Exclusion criteria

• Presence of a mental or physical condition that was contraindicated to participating in sports/exercise
• Having a chronic condition that limited mobility
• Taking medications that influenced body composition

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

---

149 participants in 2 patient groups

AFL Intervention Group

Experimental group

Description:

The AFL intervention consisted of twice a week physical activity and nutrition sessions for children and twice a week educational and physical activity sessions for parents. Each session lasted 90 minutes and all sessions were conducted in a municipal recreation center. The child program was delivered in English while the parent program was delivered in separate English-only or Spanish-only classes.

Treatment:

Behavioral: AFL Intervention

Wait-List Control Group

Other group

Description:

The wait-list control group received the 12-week AFL intervention after all follow-up data had been completed.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Wait-List Control