Family-based Intervention for Youth With Prader-Willi Syndrome: The Active Play at Home Study

Summary

Compared to other children, those with disability have additional challenges to being physically active. Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) is a genetic form of childhood obesity that is characterized by hypotonia, growth hormone deficiency, behavioral, and cognitive disability. In children, the low prevalence of PWS (1 in 10,000 to 15,000 live births) makes group-based physical activity (PA) interventions impossible. In contrast, the home environment presents a natural venue to establish a PA routine for this population. The present high prevalence of non-syndromal childhood obesity (one in four) and high physical inactivity rates, make alternative approaches to increasing PA in this population an area of high interest. Therefore, we have developed a 24-week home-based physical activity that could be suitable for children and adolescents ages 8-15 with PWS as well as obese children without PWS ages 8-11 years. It is hypothesized that: 1) an age-appropriate 24-week home-based PA intervention will increase PA levels in youth with PWS and without the syndrome but with obesity; 2) motor proficiency, central sensory reception and integration, and body composition will significantly improve in youth with and without PWS following completion of the home-based PA intervention and 3) physical activity self-efficacy and quality of life will increase significantly in youth with and without PWS who complete the home-based PA intervention. The study participants are 115 youth ages 8-15 y (45 with PWS and 70 without PWS but categorized as obese). The study utilizes a parallel design with the wait-listed control group receiving the intervention after serving as control. Participants are expected to complete the PA curriculum 4 days a week for six months including playground games 2 days a week and interactive console games 2 days a week. Parents are trained at baseline and then provided with a PA curriculum (Active Play at Home) and equipment to guide their implementation of the program at home. Measurements of children and parent dyads are assessed at baseline and at the end (week 24) of the intervention or control periods. Outcome measures include PA, body composition, motor proficiency, central sensory reception and integration (subsample of children only), quality of life and physical activity self-efficacy. PA intervention compliance is monitored using mail-in daily self-report checklists.

Conditions

• Prader Willi Syndrome
• Childhood Obesity

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Active Play at Home

The Active Play at Home (APAH) curriculum includes age-appropriate goal-oriented physical activities that combine playground and video games using the Nintendo Wii™ with exercises targeting: muscular strength and endurance, aerobic endurance, flexibility, balance, agility, and motor coordination. APAH was designed for children ages 8-11 without disability and ages 8-15 years with PWS. The playground games and interactive console-based games are to be performed twice weekly each. The activity is progressed from 25 to 45 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity throughout the 24 weeks period. Parents and children are trained to use the curriculum hands-on at baseline.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Florida

  collaborator OTHER

• California State University, Fullerton

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Daniela A Rubin, Ph.D. · California State University Fullerton, Department of Kinesiology

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

8 Years

Max Age

15 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2011-05-31

Primary Completion

2015-06-30

Completion

2015-10-31

Countries

• United States

Study Locations