Synchronous, group virtual delivery of a childhood weight program: Participation and effectiveness

ABSTRACT

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic interfered with delivery of childhood weight management programs. Get Up & Go is a community group program for children 6-14 years with BMI≥85th%ile and their families that provides fun learning about healthy nutrition, physical activity, and behavior change at no cost to families. The program is effective in improving %BMIp95, reported healthy lifestyle, and physical endurance. This study evaluates the participation and effect of a virtual delivery option offered starting winter 2021. Methods: Groups of 5-12 families met in-person at a YMCA or via synchronous virtual delivery. Parents chose setting. Each of the 10 weekly lessons lasted 60-90 minutes. Data include demographics and pre-and post-measured weights, heights, and parent-completed behavior assessment questionnaires (BAQ), with score range of 0-100, higher indicating healthier behavior. Graduation criterion is attendance at 6 of 9 non-orientation classes. Results: Among the registered families, 46 of 82 (56%) who chose virtual actually attended vs 40 of 56 (71%) who chose in-person (p = 0.07). Baseline characteristics of attenders did not differ (we report virtual, then in-person) mean age (SD) 11.1 (2.5) vs 11.1 (2.2) years, male 29 (63.0%) vs 23 (57.5%), Spanish-speaking 18 (39.1%) vs 12 (31.6%), severe obesity (≥120% BMIp95) in 39 (84.8%) vs 30 (75.0%), and baseline BAQ scores 34.9 (13.2) vs 37.2 (12.1). Virtual participants attended more classes than in-person participants: 7.3 (2.3) vs 6.1 (2.9), p = 0.04. More virtual participants met graduation criterion 35 (87.5%) vs 24 (63.2%), p = 0.01. Among graduates with post-measures, mean change in %BMIp95 was -3.27 (6.20) for n = 32 virtual vs -1.09 (3.84) for n = 23 in-person, p = 0.11, and mean BAQ increase was 15.4 (13.1) for n = 34 virtual vs 11.4 (10.6) for n = 21 in-person, p = 0.25. Conclusions: The synchronous, group virtual delivery of the Get Up & Go program engaged similar participants, with higher attendance and no difference in %BMIp95 and BAQ outcomes, compared with contemporaneous in-person delivery. Continued virtual delivery option could expand the availability of this program without compromising effect.