Effect of a Park-Based After-School Program on Participant Obesity-Related Health Outcomes

Abstract

Purpose.

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of a structured after-school program housed in a large county parks system on participant health and wellness outcomes.

Design.

Longitudinal cohort study over one school year (fall 2011-spring 2012).

Setting.

A total of 23 county parks in Florida.

Subjects.

Children ages 5 to 16 (N= 349, 55% non-Hispanic black, 40% Hispanic, mean age 8.9 years).

Intervention.

An after-school program called Fit-2-Play that integrates daily standardized physical activity and health and wellness education components.

Measures.

Preintervention (August/September 2011) and postintervention (May/June 2012) anthropometric, systolic/diastolic blood pressure, fitness, and health and wellness knowledge measurements were collected.

Analysis.

Comparison of pre-post outcome measure means were assessed via general linear mixed models for normal-weight (body mass index [BMI] < 85th percentile for age and sex) and overweight/obese (BMI ≥85th percentile for age and sex) participants.

Results.

The overweight/obese group significantly decreased their mean (1) BMI z score (2.0 to 1.8, p < .01) and (2) subscapular skinfold measurements (19.4 to 17.5 mm, p < .01) and increased (1) mean laps on the Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run test (10.8 to 12.5, p = .04) and (2) percentage with normal systolic blood pressure (58.1% to 71.0%, p = .03) from pretest to posttest. On average, participants significantly improved their health and wellness knowledge over the school year (p < .01). Normal-weight participants maintained healthy BMI ranges and significantly increased fitness levels.

Conclusion.

Findings suggest that the Fit-2-Play after-school programs can be a significant resource for combating childhood obesity and instilling positive physical health in children, particularly among ethnic and socioeconomically diverse communities.

Keywords

Obesity Overweight Prevention Fitness Youth Children Adolescents Physical Activity Prevention Research Manuscript format: research Research purpose: intervention testing,program evaluation,obesity prevention Study design: nonexperimental Outcome measure: fitness,anthropometric,health and wellness knowledge Setting: community-based parks Health focus: obesity prevention Strategy: fitness,health and wellness education Target population age: youth Target population circumstances: local community,ethnic minority,low income

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