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Completed

NCT Number: NCT01979978

Healthy Buddies Manitoba

School-based interventions are generally ineffective for preventing weight gain in children. In 2007, a group from the University of British Columbia, developed a program called Healthy Buddies, that relied on peer mentors to help young children adopt healthy living behaviours. Pilot studies revealed that the program effectively prevented weight gain in children. This trial had never been tested on a large scale using a more scientifically sound study design. We developed a large school-based randomized trial to overcome that limitation and test the hypothesis that that a school-based peer-led healthy living program would reduce adiposity and increase physical activity among children 6-12yrs old.

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Key information

Conditions

Healthy Children Elementary School Age First Nations Rural and Urban

Age range

7 year–12 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Manitoba Institute of Child Health - University of Manitoba

Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3E 3P4, Canada

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Participating schools need to meet the following eligibility criteria: (1) were within provincial jurisdiction, (2) had a minimum of 200 students per school, (3) offered grades 1 through 6.

Exclusion criteria

  • Children will be excluded if consent was not received from parents or if they had a condition that limited participation in physical activity.

Treatment and study plan

Healthy Buddies Curriculum

Other

Each week, intermediate students will receive a 45-minute healthy-living lesson plan from their classroom teacher. Later that week, intermediate students will serve as peer mentors ("Buddies"), teaching a 30-minute lesson to their younger students. The Physical activity (i.e."Go Move!") component of the lesson plans includes 30-minutes of structured aerobic fitness sessions, called fitness loops, with the student pairs twice weekly. The dietary ("Go Fuel!") component includes lessons about distinguishing nutritious and from unhealthy (nutrient poor-energy rich) foods and beverages. The body image ("Go Feel Good!") component, the students are taught to value classmates based on individual traits rather than peer influence.

Primary outcomes

  1. Waist circumference

    Time frame: 10 months

    Waist circumference at the top of the iliac crest measured in duplicate with a flexible tape.

  2. BMI-Z score

    Time frame: 10 months

    Body mass index Z score is calculated from weight/height2 and normalized to population normative data for age (months) and sex.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Physical activity

    Time frame: 10 months

    Objectively measured using daily pedometer counts recorded by teachers.

  2. Healthy living knowledge and behaviours

    Time frame: 10 months

    Questionnaires regarding healthy foods and food frequency.

  3. Self efficacy

    Time frame: 10 months

    Questionnaire.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Manitoba

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Healthy Buddies Manitoba: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Effectiveness Trial of Peer Mentoring for Healthy Eights in Children.

Important dates

Study start
2009
Primary completion
2010
Study completion
2013
First posted
Nov 8, 2013
Registry last updated
Nov 8, 2013

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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