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

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to explore how attending summer day camps can help prevent kids from gaining extra weight during the summer. Researchers are testing whether attending camp for 4, 6, or 8 weeks affects children's BMI (a measure of body fat based on height and weight) compared to those who don’t attend. The trial is ideal for students in grades K-4 who qualify for free or reduced lunch and aren't planning to attend another camp or move during the study. As a Phase 2 trial, the research focuses on measuring the effectiveness of camp attendance in an initial, smaller group of children.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

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

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research has shown that summer day camps are generally safe for children. One study on a six-week summer camp found that kids improved in body weight, heart health, and fitness levels, with no major safety issues. Another study found that summer camps help kids stay active and maintain a healthy weight during the summer.

Additionally, a one-week camp called Project Power improved children's health habits and emotional well-being, with no significant negative effects. These findings suggest that attending summer day camps is usually safe and doesn't pose serious health risks for children. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial's treatment?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores a unique approach to addressing childhood obesity through summer day camps. Unlike standard treatments that often involve dietary changes or medication, this trial tests the impact of active participation in pre-existing summer programs. These camps offer a fun and engaging way to get kids moving and teach them healthy lifestyle habits. By providing vouchers for different durations—4, 6, or 8 weeks—the trial aims to discover the optimal length of time needed to make a meaningful impact on children's health. This approach could offer a more enjoyable and sustainable way for kids to maintain a healthy weight compared to traditional methods.

What evidence suggests that this trial's summer day camp treatments could be effective for childhood obesity?

Research has shown that children who attend summer day camps often develop healthier habits and gain less weight during the summer. One study found that these camps help maintain a healthy weight by offering structured daily activities and promoting good habits. Another study discovered that summer camps can improve children's BMI, a measure of body fat based on height and weight, and boost their physical fitness. This trial will evaluate different durations of summer day camp attendance, with some children receiving vouchers for 4, 6, or 8 weeks of camp, while others will not receive a voucher. These camps provide a supportive setting that encourages kids to be more active, helping to prevent extra weight gain over the summer. Overall, attending a summer day camp is a promising way to manage children's weight effectively. ^{1 2 6 7 8}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

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 for a Trial Participant

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

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

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.

How Is the Trial Designed?

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+

Published Research Related to This Trial

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]

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]

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 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]

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]

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 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]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11429588/

Preliminary Effectiveness of a One-Week Summer Day Camp ... This study examined the preliminary effectiveness of an American-Diabetes-Association-sponsored summer day camp at improving children's health ...

2. ajpmonline.org ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(25)00549-5/fulltext

The Cost Effectiveness of a Free Summer Day Camp ... The voucher program is likely cost effective, with 80% probability of cost-effectiveness if policymakers are willing to pay $3,500 per 0.1 zBMI ...

3. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0749379725005495

The Cost Effectiveness of a Free Summer Day Camp ... Summer day camps (SDC) can mitigate summer weight gain by providing a structured daily environment that promotes healthy behaviors, but SDCs are ...

4. ijbnpa.biomedcentral.com ijbnpa.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12966-024-01658-8

Health effects of children's summer holiday programs Summer programs show potential in promoting healthier movement behaviours in children and supporting healthy body weight during the summer months.

5. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6990606/

Forever-Fit Summer Camp: The Impact of a 6-Week ... Conclusion: The FFSC is efficacious for improving BMI, cardiovascular, and physical fitness in the short term. The effect of similar episodic efforts that ...

6. mdpi.com mdpi.com/2227-9067/11/9/1097

Preliminary Effectiveness of a One-Week Summer Day ... This study offers initial evidence that the Project Power summer camp can effectively enhance health behaviors and psychosocial well-being among ...

7. bmjopen.bmj.com bmjopen.bmj.com/content/7/10/e017144

Impact of child summertime obesity interventions on body ... We propose to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of obesity prevention and treatment interventions for school-age children conducted ...

8. liebertpub.com liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/chi.2022.0181

Free Summer Day Camp to Address Childhood Obesity This study surveyed the demand from low-income caregivers of children with overweight or obesity for having their child attend a summer day camp (SDC) for free ...