Increasing Low-income Children's Access to Healthy Structured Programming to Reduce Obesity
University of South Carolina
Summary
Nearly one in five children are obese, and disparities in overweight and obesity between children from low- and middle-to-high-income households persist despite a multitude of school-based interventions. The structured days hypothesis posits that structure within a school day plays a protective role for children against obesogenic behaviors, and, ultimately, prevents the occurrence of excessive weight gain, thus, past school-based efforts are misplaced. This study will provide access to healthy structured programming via vouchers to afterschool programs and summer day camps during two "windows of vulnerability" (ie afterschool and summer) for low-income children.
Description
Despite the public health field's best efforts, disparities in overweight and obesity (OWOB) prevalence between children (6-11) from low- and middle-to-high-income families persist. Previous interventions to address disparate rates of childhood OWOB have focused almost exclusively on school settings. Given that disparities in OWOB persist, current school-based efforts may be misplaced because children engage in more unhealthy behaviors outside of school (e.g., afterschool during weekdays and during the summer). The structured days hypothesis posits that a structure within a day, defined as a p…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 5–12 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * k-4th grader in a partner school * eligible for free and reduced price lunch (a widely recognized indicator of * socioeconomic level and poverty status) * parent that indicates "yes' on an informed consent document for participation in the study Exclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of an intellectual disability, such as Down Syndrome, Fragile X, Fetal Alcohol * a physical disability, such as wheelchair use, that prevents the ability to ambulate without assistance. * Families who plan to enroll their children in a summer camp or after school program or relocate (i.e., move)…
Interventions
- BehavioralAfter school program
The after school program are existing community-based programs that take place immediately after the regular school day (typically 3:00-6:00pm); are located in a school; are available daily throughout the academic year (Monday through Friday); and provide a combination of scheduled activities, which include a snack, homework assistance/tutoring, enrichment activities (e.g., arts and crafts, music), and opportunities for children to be physically active.
- BehavioralSummer day camp
The summer day camp programs are existing camps which take place at schools from which children will be recruited. The camps are not singularly focused, such as sport camps or academic only camps. Rather, the camps provide indoor and outdoor opportunities for children to be physically active each day, provide enrichment and academic programming, as well as provide breakfast, lunch, and snacks.
Location
- University of South CarolinaColumbia, South Carolina