Abstract

BackgroundTo determine the effects of participation in Curtin University's Activity, Food and Attitudes Program (CAFAP), a community-based, family-centered behavioural intervention, on the physical activity, sedentary time, and healthy eating behaviours of overweight and obese adolescents.MethodsIn this waitlist controlled clinical trial in Western Australia, adolescents (n = 69, 71% female, mean age 14.1 (SD 1.6) years) and parents completed an 8-week intervention followed by 12 months of telephone and text message support. Assessments were completed at baseline, before beginning the intervention, immediately following the intervention, and at 3-, 6-, and 12- months follow-up. The primary outcomes were physical activity and sedentary time assessed by accelerometers and servings of fruit, vegetables and junk food assessed by 3-day food records.ResultsDuring the intensive 8-week intervention sedentary time decreased by −5.1 min/day/month (95% CI: −11.0, 0.8) which was significantly greater than the rate of change during the waitlist period (p = .014). Moderate physical activity increased by 1.8 min/day/month (95% CI: −0.04, 3.6) during the intervention period, which was significantly greater than the rate of change during the waitlist period (p = .041). Fruit consumption increased during the intervention period (monthly incidence rate ratio (IRR) 1.3, 95% CI: 1.10, 1.56) and junk food consumption decreased (monthly IRR 0.8, 95% CI: 0.74, 0.94) and these changes were different to those seen during the waitlist period (p = .004 and p = .020 respectively).ConclusionsParticipating in CAFAP appeared to have a positive influence on the physical activity, sedentary and healthy eating behaviours of overweight and obese adolescents and many of these changes were maintained for one year following the intensive intervention.Trial RegistrationAustralia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12611001187932

Highlights

  • To determine the effects of participation in Curtin University’s Activity, Food and Attitudes Program (CAFAP), a community-based, family-centered behavioural intervention, on the physical activity, sedentary time, and healthy eating behaviours of overweight and obese adolescents

  • The rate of change in moderate activity over the intervention period was significantly different to the rate of change during the waitlist period, indicating an increase in moderate activity during the intervention

  • Overweight and obese adolescents participating in CAFAP were able to make small, statistically significant and potentially clinically useful improvements in physical activity, sedentary time and healthy eating behaviour trajectories and maintained many of these changes for one year following the intensive intervention

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Summary

Introduction

To determine the effects of participation in Curtin University’s Activity, Food and Attitudes Program (CAFAP), a community-based, family-centered behavioural intervention, on the physical activity, sedentary time, and healthy eating behaviours of overweight and obese adolescents. Sedentary behaviour and healthy eating behaviours contribute to obesity and have important independent health implications [3]. The primary outcome focus of most interventions for overweight and obese adolescents has been adiposity rather than activity and healthy eating behaviours [4]. Evidence suggests that interventions targeting both activity and healthy eating behaviours should be multi-disciplinary and involve families in community settings for sustained change [4,6,7]. Few studies have used detailed dietary assessment methods, such as food records, to describe changes in healthy eating outcomes for adolescents [16]

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