Title

Body fat and fitness improvements in Hispanic and African American girls

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Summer 6-23-2013

Abstract

Objective:

The design of effective obesity interventions to reduce adiposity and increase fitness in minority children is a public health priority. This study assessed the effectiveness of a summer intervention in lowering adiposity and increasing aerobic endurance in minority girls.

Methods:

99 Hispanic and African American girls and their mothers participated. During the intervention, girls attended daily exercise, nutrition education, and counseling sessions from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Mothers attended 2-h weekly exercise, nutrition, and counseling sessions. Percent body fat, abdominal fat, and aerobic endurance (1-mile run/walk minutes) data were collected at pre- and post-intervention.

Results:

A repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to test differences in adiposity indicators and aerobic endurance. Findings indicated statistically significant reductions in percent body fat (p < .001), abdominal fat (p < .001), and 1-mile run/walk minutes (p < .001).

Conclusions:

This study demonstrated the effectiveness of a summer intervention in reducing adiposity indicators and increasing aerobic endurance.

Comments

Copyright © 2013 The Authors. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Pediatric Psychology. All rights reserved.

https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jst041

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