2016-2017 Faculty Research Grant
Maximino Mejia, Anneris Coria-Navia, Sherine Brown-Fraser, Gretchen Krivak, Greggory Morrow (Public Health, Nutrition & Wellness; Teaching, Learning & Curriculum)
Amate, Activate and Cuidate [Love Yourself, Exercise, Take Care of Yourself]: A Lifestyle Intervention for the Primary Prevention of Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome Among School-Age Children of Ciudad Victoria Tamaulipas: A Pilot Study
Background: Childhood obesity is a global health crisis. This epidemic is attributed to a genetic predisposition that interacts with obesogenic environments and psychological determinates associated with overeating personal behaviors. Prominent behavioral risk factors of obesity include limited physical activity and key dietary behaviors, such as consumption of large portions of energy-dense foods and sweet drinks that lead to excessive consumption of calories and weight gain. There is a need to test interventions that use a family based approach to increase physical activity and improve diet using principles of emotive, cognitive, behavioral and positive psychology.
Aim: The purpose of this study is to test health and physical education intervention to prevent the development of obesity and metabolic syndrome among elementary school children through an intervention focused on the adoption of a healthy lifestyle as a value among participating children.
Methods: The developmental phase of this multi-site and randomized controlled trial with repeated measurements is to pilot test, refine and evaluate the health education and physical activity curricula that will be used in the final multi-site intervention of this research project.
Expected impacts: Reduced incidence and prevalence of overweight, obesity and metabolic syndrome among school pupils assigned to the lifestyle intervention.