Poster A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial of a Classroom-Based Physical Activity Intervention for Urban Elementary School Students

Abstract

Urban minority youth living in communities with high obesity prevalence and attending low-resource schools may nothave opportunities for physical activity (PA). Identifying programs that increase PA and fitness among this populationcould yield sustainable means to reduce obesity and obesity disparities. We conducted a cluster randomized, controlled trialamong Kindergarten–3rd grade students from 15 Bronx, New York schools to evaluate the impact of a classroom-based PAintervention, CHAM JAM, on students’ physical activity, fitness and weight status. Students in six intervention schools receivedCHAM JAM, a 10-minute, education-focused aerobic lessons recorded on an audio CD. Teachers were instructed to play thelessons three times a day. Nine schools served as a control group. PA was measured by pedometer worn by students duringschool hours for 5 consecutive days at baseline and 3-months post-intervention. Fitness was assessed in a random subset of 1st3rdgraders. We employed generalized linear models with identity link function to evaluate CHAM JAM intervention effect onchange over time in PA, fitness and body mass index (BMI) and BMI z-scores. Overall, 8406 kindergarten-3rd grade students(n=4276 intervention, n= 4130 control) from 15 schools were enrolled. All students randomized to the CHAM JAM interventionhad significantly greater improvement in their PA levels post-intervention compared to students randomized to the controlgroup (b=591.18, p<0.001). CHAM JAM intervention also had significant effect on fitness levels and was equally effective inBMI subgroups. There was no significant intervention effect on change in BMI percentile and BMI z-score from baseline to12-months follow-up.CHAM JAMsignificantly increased PA and fitness levels among students attending ow-resource schools.This is a promising program particularly for the urban minority youth most at risk for weight-related comorbidities.Biography:Marina Reznik, MD, MS is Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and a general pediatricianand a child health researcher at Montefiore Medical Center (USA). Her research focuses on development and evaluation ofcommunity- and school-based interventions to improve the health care services and outcomes for medically underservedminority children with asthma. Dr. Reznik teaches and mentors medical students, residents and post-doctoral students, andprovides clinical care to children ages 0-21 years. Dr. Reznik is an author of over 60 articles, book chapters and editorials andher research has been presented both nationally and internationally.Philip O.Ozuah, MD, PhDis Professor in the departments of pediatrics and epidemiology & population health at the AlbertEinstein College of Medicine. He also is executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Montefiore Health System. Dr.Ozuah's research has been focused on environmental exposures and medical education, and has been funded by the NIH, theHealth Resources and Services Administration of DHHS, and many private foundations. His bibliography includes more than110 publications in peer-reviewed journals and books, 200 published abstracts, and more than 250 presentations at national andinternational scientific meetings.