Effect of a park-based after-school program on participant obesity-related health outcomes.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to examine the effect of a structured after-school program housed in a large county parks system on participant health and wellness outcomes. DESIGN: Longitudinal cohort study over one school year (fall 2011-spring 2012). SETTING: A total of 23 county parks in Florida. SUBJECTS: Children ages 5 to 16 (N = 349, 55% non-Hispanic black, 40% Hispanic, mean age 8.9 years). INTERVENTION: An after-school program called Fit-2-Play that integrates daily standardized physical activity and health and wellness education components. MEASURES: Preintervention (August/September 2011) and postintervention (May/June 2012) anthropometric, systolic/diastolic blood pressure, fitness, and health and wellness knowledge measurements were collected. ANALYSIS: Comparison of pre-post outcome measure means were assessed via general linear mixed models for normal-weight (body mass index [BMI] <85th percentile for age and sex) and overweight/obese (BMI ≥85th percentile for age and sex) participants. RESULTS: The overweight/obese group significantly decreased their mean (1) BMI z score (2.0 to 1.8, p < .01) and (2) subscapular skinfold measurements (19.4 to 17.5 mm, p < .01) and increased (1) mean laps on the Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run test (10.8 to 12.5, p = .04) and (2) percentage with normal systolic blood pressure (58.1% to 71.0%, p = .03) from pretest to posttest. On average, participants significantly improved their health and wellness knowledge over the school year (p < .01). Normal-weight participants maintained healthy BMI ranges and significantly increased fitness levels. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that the Fit-2-Play after-school programs can be a significant resource for combating childhood obesity and instilling positive physical health in children, particularly among ethnic and socioeconomically diverse communities.

Park-based afterschool program to improve cardiovascular health and physical fitness in children with disabilities.

BACKGROUND: Children with disabilities are more likely to be overweight or obese and less likely to engage in physical activities versus their peers without disabilities. OBJECTIVE: The effect of a structured afterschool program housed in a large county parks system on several obesity-related health outcomes among children with disabilities was examined. METHODS: Children/adolescents with a developmental and/or intellectual disability ages 6-22 (N = 52, mean age 13.7 years) who participated in an afterschool (either 2010-2011 or 2011-2012 school year) health and wellness program called Fit-2-Play™ were assessed. Pre-post comparison of outcome variables (mean height, weight, waist/hip/midarm circumference, fitness tests, and a 9-item health and wellness knowledge assessment) via general linear mixed models analysis was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the program for normal and overweight/obese participants. RESULTS: Normal weight participants significantly improved pre-post mean number of push-ups (9.69-14.23, p = 0.01) and laps on the PACER test (8.54-11.38, p < 0.01) and the overweight/obese group significantly improved the number of sit ups (7.51-9.84, p < 0.01) and push ups (4.77-9.89, p < 0.001). Pre-post mean health and wellness knowledge composite scores significantly improved for all participants (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Parks-based afterschool programs can be effective community resources for instilling physical health in both normal weight and overweight/obese children with disabilities. More studies are needed to ascertain whether community-based afterschool health and wellness programs can be implemented and sustained across this population.