BasketballRx: Game Changing Health

BasketballRx is a pilot study for children ages 10 to 15 who are overweight or have obesity. The study will help researchers learn if the program works well for children and families and if it may help children build healthier habits, improve their physical health, and support their emotional well-being. Up to 30 children will take part.

Children will attend six BasketballRx sessions over about two months. The first five sessions will last 90 minutes. Each session will include a health lesson and basketball activities. Children will learn about healthy eating, drinking enough water, reading food labels, sleep, injury prevention, mindfulness, and ways to manage stress. They will also take part in basketball drills, games, and team activities designed for their age and skill level.

The last session will be a three-hour "Hoops for Health Fair." Children will take part in basketball games and activities and share some of what they learned during the program with their families and community members.

Researchers will look at how well the program works for children and families. They will track how many children join the study, attend the sessions, and complete the program. Children will also be asked what they thought about BasketballRx.

Researchers will also look for changes in children's health and healthy habits. Height, weight, and waist size will be measured at the beginning and end of the program. Blood pressure and heart rate will be checked before physical activity at each session. Children will answer questions about healthy eating, physical activity, sleep, screen time, stress, mood, and other health habits. They will also complete standard questionnaires about feelings of anxiety and depression. If a child's answers show that they may need more support, the study team will follow the study safety plan and may recommend follow-up with the child's regular healthcare provider.

Because this is a small pilot study, the main goal is to learn whether BasketballRx is practical and works well for children and families. Researchers will also look for early signs that the program may help improve healthy habits, physical health, and emotional well-being. What is learned from this study may be used to improve BasketballRx and plan larger studies in the future.

Inclusion criteria

• Ages 10 years old to 15 years old.
• BMI 85th percentile or higher
• Patient at the Penn State Health Family and Community Medicine Clinic in Harrisburg, PA
• Race/ethnicity self-reported as Black or Latino
• One guardian (as listed in the EHR) must be present during the entirety of all sessions
• English-speaking
• Allowable medical conditions: depression, anxiety, adhd, hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, insulin resistance, prediabetes, diabetes, skin conditions, stage 1 hypertension.

Exclusion criteria

• Children younger than 10 years old or older than 15 years old
• Children with a BMI lower than the 85th percentile
• Children with structural cardiac conditions, respiratory conditions, concussion within the past 30days, Stage 2 hypertension, history of syncope or near syncope, cardiac dysrhythmias/channelopathies (e.g., long QT syndrome, heart block), history of exercise-induced chest pain or heart palpitations, family history of sudden cardiac death in children, seizure disorder, pregnancy.
• Children with current or past orthopedic conditions/injuries.
• Children with health conditions/physical limitations that render them unable to participate in any component of the program including but not limited to severe developmental delays, autism, wheelchair dependence.
• Not cared for at the Penn State Health Family and Community Medicine Clinic in Harrisburg, PA
• Not of Black/Latino race/ethnicity
• Unaccompanied children
• Inability to verify guardianship with the EHR
• Non-English speaking
• Participants without sneakers
• Already enrolled in another formal exercise program
• An elevated heart rate or newly discovered elevated blood pressure before the start of any of the sessions
• Parent/guardian is unwilling or unable to provide consent