EXCEL: Change in Cardiometabolic Disease Risk Factors During an Interactive Fitness Program

Summary

Childhood obesity has increased in prevalence over the past several decades and is predictive of adult type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Recent studies of children and youth suggest that exercise reduces cardiometabolic risk factors. Minimal data are available, however, on the effects of "exergaming" , interactive technology- mediated approaches to increasing physical activity in children and youth. This project involves a partnership between UMass Boston/GoKids Boston and Children's Hospital Boston featuring an interdisciplinary team of researchers and clinicians from pediatric cardiology, nursing, prevention and behavioral sciences and exercise physiology and is designed to examine the effects of exergaming on moderate or vigorous physical activity (MVPA) indices of adiposity, risk factors for cardiometabolic disease and self-competence in Boston Public School children. It is hypothesized that participation in the EXCEL/exergaming intervention for 60 minutes, three times per week for 12 weeks will significantly increase MVPA (as measured by accelerometers), pre- to- post intervention and compared to an Advice only (Nutrition Education) group.Results of this pilot study will guide and inform a larger study of exergaming in children from the Boston Public Schools.

Conditions

• Cardiovascular Disease

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

EXCEL

Children in the EXCEL intervention will receive 12 weeks of supervised physical activity, guided by principles of behavior change, in the form of exergaming (technology-mediated interactive physical activity)3 times per week for 12 weeks and will also receive weekly group nutrition education sessions

BEHAVIORAL

EXCEL

Participants in the EXCEL intervention will receive 12 weeks of supervised physical activity in the form of exergaming (technology-mediated physical activity). Sessions will be held 3 times per week with 60 minutes of supervised physical activity.

BEHAVIORAL

Nutrition Education ONLY

Children in the nutrition education group will receive 30 minutes per week of group nutrition education in the school environment and delivered by a registered dietitian The nutrition education sessions will be identical to those provided for the EXCEL group.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Center for Research Resources (NCRR)

  collaborator NIH

• Boston Children's Hospital

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Massachusetts, Boston

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

TRIPLE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

8 Years

Max Age

12 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2010-04-30

Primary Completion

2013-06-30

Completion

2013-07-31