Abstract
Background: The CHHIL is a faith-based, culturally tailored and multi-level obesity attenuation and prevention program for African American (AA) children and adolescents in low-income church community. The study objective is to test the feasibility and efficacy of 8 weeks CHHIL intervention. Methods: This is a sequential mixed methods study design, examining the feasibility and efficacy of 8 weeks CHHIL intervention conducted at a low income neighborhood AA church. All sessions were conducted at the AA church, after Sunday services. Parents and children separately attended seven weekly group sessions focused on lifestyle modification. Participants: 1) an AA church member; 2) age 8-17 years; 3) Child BMI of 85%-95% or parent with BMI ≥ 25 or family history of type 2 diabetes. Eleven families (child and at least one parent/guardian) were recruited. At the baseline and then every week for 7 weeks children’s nutrition, physical activity (PA) and anthropometric information was obtained. Primary outcomes were changes in dietary intake/patterns and BMI at the end of 8-weeks CHHIL program. Changes in outcome measures were assessed using paired samples t-tests, ANOVA and non-parametric tests. Results: Of the 11 children and adolescents who enrolled, seven (63%) completed the 8-weeks program. Overall there was a trend among the children and adolescents to decrease total calories (kcals), protein, and carbohydrates consumed overtime. Participants consumed significantly lower levels of sodium from baseline to end of the program (P<0.001). At the end of 8 sessions (7 weeks), no significant change in BMI and other anthropometric parameters was seen at the end of the program. Conclusion: The CHHIL program may be a promising option for health behaviors changes and thus changes in weight for church-based ethnic minorities. However trend towards improvements in dietary behaviors were observed, no impact on anthropometric measures were seen requiring further research with longer program duration. With increasing burden of health disparities, childhood obesity prevention research must now move towards identifying how effective intervention components can be embedded within health, education and care systems and achieve long term sustainable impacts.
Highlights
Obesity is a major public health problem for adults and children worldwide
Participants believed that the main health issues that community members faced included “diabetes,” “high blood pressure,” and “obesity.” When asked about what eating healthily meant, participants suggested items like “smaller portion size,” “moderation,” and “balance.” An important factor in this discussion of eating healthily was cost
This study admits its limitations, our results add further understanding of baseline eating behaviors among low income churchbased ethnic minorities and how eating behaviors showed changes during 8-weeks of a healthy lifestyle program implemented by church own-trained members (CHAs)
Summary
Obesity is a major public health problem for adults and children worldwide. Poor nutrition and physical inactivity are major contributors and should be considered the most urgent indicators to address in pediatrics and child health [1]. Around 75% of the younger age-groups in the US do not consume the recommended servings of 5 or more fruits and vegetables per day and about 60% of children ages 6-11 years do not get the recommended 60 minutes per day of physical activity (PA) [1]. With this increasing obesity burden, the incidence of type 2 diabetes ( diabetes) in young children is increasing [1]. The study objective is to test the feasibility and efficacy of 8 weeks CHHIL intervention
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
