Camp NERF: Methods of a Summer Nutrition Ed Rec & Fitness Program to Prevent Unhealthy Weight Gain in Children

NCT ID: NCT02908230

Last Updated: 2016-09-21

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 87 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2015-05-31
• Study Completion Date: 2015-08-31

Brief Summary

The primary aims of this research project are to:

1. Evaluate the efficacy of Camp NERF to improve child nutrition, physical activity, mental health, and anthropometric outcomes.

2. Evaluate the efficacy of Camp NERF to improve caregiver self-efficacy for establishing healthy family nutrition and physical activity practices, amount of physical activity, and BMI.

3. Evaluate the efficacy of Camp NERF to improve youth mentor nutrition, physical activity, and anthropometric outcomes.

Detailed Description

Background: The number of obese children in the US remains high, which is problematic due to the mental, physical, and academic effects of obesity on child health. Data indicate that school-age children, particularly underserved children, experience unhealthy gains in BMI at a rate nearly twice as fast during the summer months. Few efforts have been directed at implementing evidence-based programming to prevent excess weight gain during the summer recess.

Methods: Camp NERF is an 8-week, multi-component (nutrition, physical activity, and mental health), theory-based program for underserved school-age children in grades Kindergarten - 5th grade coupled with the USDA Summer Food Service Program. Twelve eligible elementary school sites will be randomized to one of the three programming groups: 1) Active Control (non-nutrition, physical activity, or mental health [4H curricula]); 2) Standard Care (nutrition and physical activity); or 3) Enhanced Care (nutrition, physical activity, and mental health) programming. Anthropometric, behavioral, and psychosocial data will be collected from child-caregiver dyads pre- and post-intervention. Site-specific characteristics and process evaluation measures will also be collected.

Discussion: This is the first, evidence-based intervention to address the issue of weight gain during the summer months among underserved, school-aged children. Results from this study will provide researchers, practitioners, and public health professionals with insight on evidence-based programming to aid in childhood obesity prevention during this particular window of risk.

Conditions

Childhood Obesity

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: PREVENTION
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Active Control

Active Control: exposure to a non-nutrition, physical activity, or mental health curriculum/program

Group Type: PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Active Control

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

8-week (non-nutrition, physical activity or mental health) summer curriculum/program

Standard Care

Standard Care: exposure to a nutrition and physical activity curriculum/program

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Standard Care

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

8-week (nutrition and physical activity) summer curriculum/program

Enhanced Care

Enhanced Care: exposure to a nutrition, physical activity, and mental health curriculum/program

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Enhanced Care

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

8-week (nutrition, physical activity, and mental health) summer curriculum/program

Interventions

Enhanced Care

8-week (nutrition, physical activity, and mental health) summer curriculum/program

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Standard Care

8-week (nutrition and physical activity) summer curriculum/program

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Active Control

8-week (non-nutrition, physical activity or mental health) summer curriculum/program

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Elementary school; USDA Summer Food Service Program open site; and 3) lacking structured programming

Exclusion Criteria

-

• Minimum Eligible Age: 4 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 12 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Aetna Foundation

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Ohio State University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Carolyn Gunther

Assistant Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Carolyn W Gunther, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Ohio State University

References

Hopkins LC, Webster A, Kennel JA, Purtell KM, Gunther C. Youth Mentor Dietary Outcomes and Waist Circumference Improvement: Camp NERF Study Findings. Health Promot Pract. 2020 Nov;21(6):962-971. doi: 10.1177/1524839919833989. Epub 2019 Feb 28.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 30819010 (View on PubMed)

Hopkins LC, Fristad M, Goodway JD, Melnyk B, Eneli I, Holloman C, Kennel JA, Webster A, Sharn AR, Gunther C. Feasibility and acceptability of technology-based caregiver engagement strategies delivered in a summertime childhood obesity prevention intervention: results from an internal pilot of the Camp NERF (Nutrition, Education, Recreation, and Fitness) study. Pilot Feasibility Stud. 2018 Sep 27;4:153. doi: 10.1186/s40814-018-0340-2. eCollection 2018.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 30275966 (View on PubMed)

Hopkins LC, Fristad M, Goodway JD, Eneli I, Holloman C, Kennel JA, Melnyk B, Gunther C. Camp NERF: methods of a theory-based nutrition education recreation and fitness program aimed at preventing unhealthy weight gain in underserved elementary children during summer months. BMC Public Health. 2016 Oct 26;16(1):1122. doi: 10.1186/s12889-016-3765-7.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 27784290 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

2014B0197

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id