Loading your page…
JAMA network open
By Wang ML, Alatorre S, Schwarz AG and 6 others.
Importance: Childhood obesity remains a major concern in the US, with increases in body mass index (BMI) observed during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Scalable behavioral interventions are needed to support obesity prevention in community settings.
Ward brings these articles into the same app as your cards and questions. One free account for Ward, Suture, Osler and Prognia.
To evaluate the efficacy of a community-based behavioral intervention (H2GO!) on BMI z scores (zBMIs) among school-aged children. Design, setting, and participants: This cluster randomized clinical trial was conducted from September 2020 to June 2025 across 11 Boys & Girls Club sites in Massachusetts. Sites were pair-matched and randomized to intervention or usual care condition. Participants included children aged 8 to 13 years and their parents or caregivers.
Twelve group-based sessions delivered in person over 6 weeks by trained Boys & Girls Club staff using behavioral strategies to reduce sugar-sweetened beverage intake and increase water consumption through health sessions, youth-created narratives, and parent-child activities. Comparison sites received usual programming. Main outcomes and measures: Outcomes were assessed at baseline and at 2, 6, and 12 months using intention-to-treat analyses. The primary outcome was 12-month change from baseline in child zBMI, derived from staff-measured height and weight using standardized protocols. Secondary outcomes included child sugar-sweetened beverage and water intake measured using a validated questionnaire.
Among 437 child participants (mean [SD] age, 10.1 [1.2] years; 219 girls [50.1%]), 0.2% were American Indian or Alaska Native, 1.8% were Asian, 15.8% were Black or African American, 42.6% were Hispanic or Latino, and 29.5% were White; 297 (68%) were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. At baseline, 74 children (16.9%) had overweight, and 161 (36.8%) had obesity. From baseline to 12 months, the mean zBMI did not statistically significantly decrease (-0.11 [95% CI, -0.25 to 0.02]) in the intervention group and did not statistically significantly increase (0.08 [95% CI, -0.04 to 0.20]) in the comparison group; however, the estimated between-group difference in the adjusted mean zBMI change from baseline was statistically significant: -0.19 (95% CI, -0.38 to -0.01; P = .04). Between-group differences in sugar-sweetened beverage and water intake were not significant. Conclusions and relevance: In this cluster randomized clinical trial, a community-based behavioral intervention was associated with a statistically significant between-group difference in zBMI change among school-aged children. Findings support the potential of community-based behavioral interventions in obesity prevention.
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04265794.
Published in JAMA network open. The abstract is shown as published and remains the work of its authors; read the full article at the source.
Prognia lists this article for reference and education. It is not medical advice. Always read the original and follow current guidelines and local protocols before acting on it.
