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

• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02908230
• Recruitment Status: Completed
• First Posted: September 20, 2016
• Last Update Posted: September 21, 2016
• Sponsor: Ohio State University
• Collaborator: Aetna Foundation
• Information provided by (Responsible Party): Carolyn Gunther, Ohio State University

Study Description

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.

Condition or disease	Intervention/treatment	Phase
Childhood Obesity	Behavioral: Enhanced Care; Behavioral: Standard Care; Behavioral: Active Control	Not Applicable

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.

Study Design

• Study Type: Interventional (Clinical Trial)
• Actual Enrollment: 87 participants
• Allocation: Randomized
• Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)
• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Official Title: 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
• Study Start Date: May 2015
• Actual Primary Completion Date: August 2015
• Actual Study Completion Date: August 2015

Arms and Interventions

Arm	Intervention/treatment
Placebo Comparator: Active Control; Active Control: exposure to a non-nutrition, physical activity, or mental health curriculum/program	Behavioral: Active Control; 8-week (non-nutrition, physical activity or mental health) summer curriculum/program
Active Comparator: Standard Care; Standard Care: exposure to a nutrition and physical activity curriculum/program	Behavioral: Standard Care; 8-week (nutrition and physical activity) summer curriculum/program
Experimental: Enhanced Care; Enhanced Care: exposure to a nutrition, physical activity, and mental health curriculum/program	Behavioral: Enhanced Care; 8-week (nutrition, physical activity, and mental health) summer curriculum/program

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures :

1. Change in child BMI z-score [ Time Frame: Baseline and 8 weeks ]

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 4 Years to 12 Years (Child)
• Sexes Eligible for Study: All
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria (site level):

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

Exclusion Criteria:

-

Contacts and Locations

Sponsors and Collaborators

Ohio State University

Aetna Foundation

Investigators

• Principal Investigator: Carolyn W Gunther, PhD; Ohio State University

More Information

Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):

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.

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.

• Responsible Party: Carolyn Gunther, Assistant Professor, Ohio State University
• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02908230
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2014B0197
• First Posted: September 20, 2016
• Last Update Posted: September 21, 2016
• Last Verified: September 2016

Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement:

• Plan to Share IPD: No

Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Pediatric Obesity; Weight Gain; Body Weight Changes; Body Weight; Obesity; Overnutrition; Nutrition Disorders; Overweight