A community-based intervention increases physical activity and reduces obesity in school-age children in North Carolina.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Community-based interventions are promising approaches to obesity prevention,
but few studies have prospectively evaluated them. The aim of this study was to evaluate
a natural experiment—a community intervention designed to promote active living and
decrease obesity within a small southern town. METHODS: In 2011, community leaders
implemented the Mebane on the Move intervention—a community-wide effort to promote
physical activity (PA) and decrease obesity among residents of Mebane, North Carolina.
We measured child PA and BMI before and after the intervention, using a nearby town
not implementing an intervention as the comparison. In total, we assessed 64 children
from Mebane and 40 from the comparison community 6 months before, as well as 34 and
18 children 6 months after the intervention. We assessed PA with accelerometers worn
for 7 days and calculated BMI z-scores using children's height and weight. We conducted
multivariable linear regressions examining pre- to postintervention change in minutes
of PA and BMI z-score, adjusting for confounders. RESULTS: At follow-up, children
in Mebane modestly increased their moderate-to-vigorous PA (1.3 minutes per hour;
95% confidence interval (CI): 0.2, 2.3; p=0.03) and vigorous activity (0.8 minutes
per hour; 95% CI: 0.1, 1.5; p=0.04) more than comparison children. In intervention
children, BMI z-scores decreased 0.5 units (kg/m(2); 95% CI: -0.9, -0.02; p=0.045),
compared to children in the comparison community. CONCLUSIONS: We observed positive
effects on PA level and weight status of children in Mebane, despite high rates of
attrition, suggesting that the community-based intervention may have been successful.
Type
Journal articleSubject
Body Mass IndexChild
Community Health Services
Exercise
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Health Behavior
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Health Promotion
Humans
Male
North Carolina
Pediatric Obesity
Weight Loss
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https://hdl.handle.net/10161/11436Published Version (Please cite this version)
10.1089/chi.2014.0130Publication Info
Benjamin Neelon, Sara E; Namenek Brouwer, Rebecca J; Østbye, Truls; Evenson, Kelly
R; Neelon, Brian; Martinie, Annie; & Bennett, Gary (2015). A community-based intervention increases physical activity and reduces obesity in
school-age children in North Carolina. Child Obes, 11(3). pp. 297-303. 10.1089/chi.2014.0130. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/11436.This is constructed from limited available data and may be imprecise. To cite this
article, please review & use the official citation provided by the journal.
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Gary G. Bennett
Dean of Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Gary G. Bennett, Ph.D., is dean of the Trinity College of Arts & Sciences at Duke
University.
As dean, Dr. Bennett is responsible for defining and articulating the strategic mission
of Trinity College, ensuring a world-class liberal arts education in a research environment
for all students, and attracting, retaining, and nurturing a diverse community of
distinguished faculty.
Dr. Bennett is a professor of psychology & neuroscience, global health, medicine,
and n
Rebecca Brouwer
Dir, Research Initiatives
My overarching goal is to facilitate effective research and collaborations for the
Duke research community, through the delivery of targeted programs, tools, and individual
consultations.
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