Reducing Risk Factors for Childhood Obesity Article (Web of Science)

abstract

  • This study has sought to determine if the Tommie Smith Youth Athletic Initiative (TSYAI) intervention could decrease the risk factors for childhood obesity among children 5 to 10 years of age. The TSYAI intervention is a 14-week after-school intervention for students in Grades K-5 that was started during the spring of 2008. It serves 63 children in a predominantly African American elementary school. The intervention consists of supervised after-school sessions 3 days per week. These sessions include 2 days of physical activity (flexibility, resistance, and track-and-field training) and 1 day of 45 min of nutrition education modules based on the Transtheoretical Model of behavior change followed by 45 min of group physical activity. Ninety-two percent of the participants are African American and 60% are overweight or obese (>85th percentile BMI for age and gender). The findings indicate that the TSYAI intervention significantly improves the participant’s cardiovascular fitness, body composition, and dietary habits.

authors

  • Jacks, Dean E.
  • Wedig, Rita Thomas
  • Newman, Jamie L.
  • Tobe, Lisa
  • Hollingsworth, Angela

publication date

  • 2009

webpage

published in

number of pages

  • 15

start page

  • 715

end page

  • 730

volume

  • 31

issue

  • 6