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Completed

NCT Number: NCT00746083

Challenge!, a Health Promotion/ Obesity Prevention Program for Teens

The purpose of Challenge! is to determine if adolescents enrolled in a health promotion/ obesity prevention program will have a healthier BMI-for-age z-score and body composition (body fat %), will consume a healthier diet, and engage in higher levels of physical activity compared to those that did not receive the intervention over time.

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Key information

Conditions

Overweight Body Weight Nutrition Disorders Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases Obesity Overnutrition Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

11 year–16 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Maryland School of Medicine

Baltimore, Maryland, 21201, United States

About this study

Pediatric overweight is a major public health problem in the US, with the prevalence of overweight among children of all ages increasing dramatically over the past several decades. Interventions aimed at reducing the increased weight gain during adolescence have produced mixed results.

Challenge! is a randomized controlled trial for health promotion/ obesity prevention targeting low-income, urban, African American adolescents. Healthy adolescents were recruited from an urban medical center and from local middle schools. Weight status was not part of the inclusion criteria.

The intervention was home- and community-based and delivered one-on-one to each adolescent by a college-age "personal trainer". The intervention focused on goal-setting, consuming a healthy diet (increase fruits, vegetables, and water, and decrease high-fat snack and convenience foods), and increasing physical activity. We hypothesized that the teens enrolled in the intervention would have a healthier BMI-for-age z-score and a healthier body composition (body fat %) compared to those that did not receive the intervention over time. Additionally, we hypothesized that those enrolled in the intervention would consume healthier diets and have higher levels of physical activity compared to those that did not receive the intervention over time.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Ages 11-16, willing to participate in a randomized controlled trial for health promotion

Exclusion criteria

  • Outside of age range

Treatment and study plan

Challenge!

Behavioral

Each adolescent in the intervention group received 12 lessons administered in adolescent's home or community by a "personal trainer" (a college-aged mentor). The lessons focused on behavior change relating to diet and physical activity and was based on social cognitive theory. At the end of each lesson the adolescent set a behavior change goal for themselves. The adolescents were taught how to track their goals and they discussed thir ability/inability to meet their goals at each meeting with their personal trainer.

Other names: Obesity prevention, Goal setting, Diet, Physical activity

Primary outcomes

  1. BMI-for-age z-score and percentiles (measured weight and height, self-reported gender and date of birth)and Body composition (Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry, and Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis)

    Time frame: 2 years

Secondary outcomes

  1. Physical Activity (accelerometry and self-report) Diet (Food frequency questionnaire)

    Time frame: 2 years

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Maryland, Baltimore

Other

Collaborators

  • Annie E. Casey Foundation
  • Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
  • The Thomas Wilson Sanitarium for Children of Baltimore City
  • University of Massachusetts, Worcester

Registry information

Official study title

Randomized Controlled Trial for Health Promotion/ Obesity Prevention Targeting Low-income, Urban, African-American Adolescents

Important dates

Study start
2001
Primary completion
2005
Study completion
2007
First posted
Sep 3, 2008
Registry last updated
Aug 16, 2019

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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