Summer Day Camp for Childhood Obesity

(DOSE Trial)

Overseen By Robert Weaver

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Phase 2

Sponsor: University of South Carolina

Disqualifiers: Intellectual disability, Physical disability, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Prior Safety Data This treatment has passed at least one previous human trial

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 4-8 weeks

360 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether participants need to stop taking their current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Summer day camp for childhood obesity?

Research shows that summer camps focusing on physical activity, healthy eating, and group therapy can help children lose weight and improve self-esteem. Studies found that children attending these camps lost weight, mainly from body fat, and showed improvements in BMI (a measure of body fat based on height and weight). ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is attending a summer day camp safe for children with obesity?

Research on summer camps for childhood obesity shows they are generally safe, with no complications reported during the programs. ^{1 2 4 6 7}

How does the summer day camp treatment for childhood obesity differ from other treatments?

The summer day camp treatment for childhood obesity is unique because it combines physical activities, dietary education, and group therapy in a fun, engaging environment, which helps children lose weight and improve self-esteem. Unlike traditional outpatient treatments, this camp setting provides a structured, immersive experience that encourages healthy habits and social support, making it particularly effective for initiating weight loss in children. ^{1 2 3 5 6}

What is the purpose of this trial?

Studies show that virtually all increases in children's (5-12yrs) BMI occur during the summer, no matter children's' weight status (i.e., normal weight, overweight, or obese) at summer entry. Recent preliminary studies show that children engage in healthier behaviors on days that they attend summer day camps, and that BMI gain does not accelerate for these children. The proposed randomized dose-response study will identify the dose-response relationship between amount of summer programming and summer BMI gain.

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for kids aged 5-12 who are in kindergarten to 4th grade at a partner school, come from lower-income families eligible for free or reduced price lunch, and have parents who consent to their participation.

Inclusion Criteria

Parent that indicates 'yes' on an informed consent document for participation in the study

k-4th grader in a partner school

Eligible for free and reduced price lunch (a widely recognized indicator of socioeconomic level and poverty status)

Exclusion Criteria

Diagnosis of an intellectual disability, such as Down Syndrome, Fragile X, Fetal Alcohol

I plan to enroll my child in summer camp or move during the study.

I use a wheelchair and cannot walk without help.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Children participate in structured summer programming for 4, 6, or 8 weeks to evaluate the impact on BMI gain

4-8 weeks

Daily attendance at summer program

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in BMI and obesogenic behaviors after summer programming

9 months

Assessments at the beginning and end of the school year

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Summer day camp

Trial Overview The study is testing how attending summer day camps affects children's weight by comparing BMI changes over the summer. It aims to find out if more time spent in structured environments like camps can prevent unhealthy weight gain.

Participant Groups

Group I: 8-week voucher Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Children in this group will receive a voucher to attend 8-weeks of a pre-existing summer program

Group II: 6-week voucher Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Children in this group will receive a voucher to attend 6-weeks of a pre-existing summer program

Group III: 4-week voucher Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Children in this group will receive a voucher to attend 4-weeks of a pre-existing summer program

Group IV: Control Active Control 1 Intervention

Children in this group will not receive a voucher to attend a pre-existing summer program

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of South Carolina

Lead Sponsor

Trials

233

Recruited

122,000+

Findings from Research

A 2-week residential summer camp for 21 obese children led to significant improvements in various health metrics, including a reduction in body weight by an average of 3.7 kg and a decrease in BMI by 1.60 kg/m².

Participants also experienced enhanced self-esteem and better cardiovascular health, with notable reductions in blood pressure and heart rate, indicating the camp's potential effectiveness in addressing childhood obesity.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An innovative summer camp program improves weight and self-esteem in obese children. Wong, WW., Abrams, SH., Mikhail, C., et al.[2022]

A 4-week summer camp for 21 children aged 8-13 with moderate to severe obesity resulted in an average weight loss of about 5% of their initial body weight, primarily from body fat rather than lean mass.

The program included dietary restrictions, exercise, swimming, and group therapy, and was conducted without any reported complications, indicating it is a safe and practical approach for initiating weight loss in obese children.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A summer camp for childhood obesity in Thailand. Jirapinyo, P., Limsathayourat, N., Wongarn, R., et al.[2022]

A two-week weight-management camp followed by a 10-week community intervention significantly reduced BMI in overweight and obese Qatari children (n=300), demonstrating effective weight management strategies.

The combination of cognitive behavioral therapy and behavior change techniques in the community program helped maintain weight loss achieved during the camp, indicating its potential for long-term weight management.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Testing a multicomponent lifestyle intervention for combatting childhood obesity. Vlaev, I., Taylor, MJ., Taylor, D., et al.[2021]

A one-year immersive day-camp weight-loss intervention for children aged 11-13 significantly reduced BMI and improved metabolic health compared to a standard weekly exercise program, with notable improvements observed after six weeks.

While the day-camp intervention showed sustained benefits after 52 weeks, the reductions in BMI and cardiovascular risk were less pronounced over time, indicating that ongoing support may be necessary to maintain weight loss.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Multi-Component Day-Camp Weight-Loss Program Is Effective in Reducing BMI in Children after One Year: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Larsen, KT., Huang, T., Ried-Larsen, M., et al.[2022]

An 8-day camp for 41 obese children (BMI > 97th percentile) led to significant improvements in body composition, including reduced skinfold thickness and better metabolic responses after one year.

The camp not only improved physical health markers but also aimed to enhance nutritional education and psychological well-being, suggesting a holistic approach to treating childhood obesity.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Role of camping in the treatment of childhood obesity. Di Pietro, M., Campanaro, P., D'Angelo, G., et al.[2019]

A survey of 109 caregivers of children who are overweight or obese revealed that about 66% were interested in having their child attend free summer day camps, indicating a demand for such programs.

Offering free summer day camps could be an effective strategy to help prevent accelerated weight gain in children from low-income households during the summer months.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Free Summer Day Camp to Address Childhood Obesity: Is There Demand? Brazendale, K., Gurnurkar, S., Hunt, ET., et al.[2023]

In a study involving 94 children aged 6 to 12 from low-income households, those who attended an 8-week summer day camp (CAMP) experienced a slight decrease in BMIz, while those who had an unstructured summer (SAU) gained weight, indicating that structured summer activities can help prevent weight gain.

The CAMP participants showed relatively stable energy intake compared to the SAU group, who increased their energy intake, suggesting that summer camps can promote healthier eating habits alongside physical activity.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Testing the effect of summer camp on excess summer weight gain in youth from low-income households: a randomized controlled trial. Evans, EW., Wing, RR., Pierre, DF., et al.[2021]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An innovative summer camp program improves weight and self-esteem in obese children. [2022]

2. Thailand pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A summer camp for childhood obesity in Thailand. [2022]

3. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Testing a multicomponent lifestyle intervention for combatting childhood obesity. [2021]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Multi-Component Day-Camp Weight-Loss Program Is Effective in Reducing BMI in Children after One Year: A Randomized Controlled Trial. [2022]

5. Italy pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Role of camping in the treatment of childhood obesity. [2019]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Free Summer Day Camp to Address Childhood Obesity: Is There Demand? [2023]

7. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Testing the effect of summer camp on excess summer weight gain in youth from low-income households: a randomized controlled trial. [2021]