School Programs for Youth Cardiovascular Health

(HSRC Trial)

Overseen By Jacob Szeszulski, PhD

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Texas A&M University

Disqualifiers: Motor, cognitive impairments, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial focuses on improving school-based programs that promote physical activity and healthy eating among diverse youth in Texas. It tests different strategies, such as mentoring, enhanced resources, and motivational enhancement therapy, to determine which are most effective in reducing cardiovascular risk factors in children. The trial seeks public elementary schools in North and East Texas, specifically those with 5th or 6th-grade students who are at least 10 years old and can read, speak, and write in English. Participating students should not have motor or cognitive impairments that would prevent them from completing a physical assessment. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative strategies that could significantly improve children's health and well-being.

Do I need to stop taking my current medications to join the trial?

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 school-based programs like Be a Fit Kid and the Know Your Body program are safe for children, with no major safety concerns raised in past studies. The Mentoring Program improves students' health by pairing them with mentors, strengthening relationships, and boosting school performance without causing harm.

Under the Healthy School Recognized Campus initiative, previous efforts for Enhanced Resources have been well-received. These programs promote physical activity and healthy eating in schools and have consistently been found safe for students.

Enhanced Engagement strategies in schools aim to involve students in health activities that encourage positive behavior changes. These methods have been tested and are considered safe.

In summary, the Mentoring Program, Enhanced Resources, and Enhanced Engagement focus on improving health through school activities. They have been shown to be safe and well-accepted by children in school settings. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the School Programs for Youth Cardiovascular Health trial because it aims to discover how different strategies like mentoring, enhanced resources, and enhanced engagement can improve heart health among students. Unlike traditional approaches that might focus solely on physical activity or diet, this trial explores a combination of educational support, personal guidance, and resource access to create a holistic health improvement plan. This comprehensive approach could uncover new ways to promote heart health in schools, potentially leading to better long-term outcomes for young people.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for improving youth cardiovascular health?

Research has shown that school programs like the Healthy School Recognized Campus can improve heart health in young people. In this trial, participants may receive different strategies to enhance these programs. One option, the Mentoring Program, builds on the success of similar initiatives like iPeer2Peer, which have supported young people with long-term illnesses. Another option, Enhanced Resources, has been linked to increased physical activity, crucial for heart health. Additionally, the Enhanced Engagement strategy aims to boost involvement and support healthy lifestyle changes. Together, these methods, in various combinations, aim to lower heart disease risk by encouraging better exercise and eating habits among students. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Jacob Szeszulski, PhD

Principal Investigator

Texas A&M AgriLife

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for public elementary schools in North and East Texas with students in the 5th or 6th grade. Students must be at least 10 years old by September 1, able to read, speak, and write English. There's no mention of specific exclusions.

Inclusion Criteria

You attended a public primary school.

I am currently a student.

You can understand and communicate in English.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Implementation

Schools are randomized to receive different strategies to support the Healthy School Recognized Campus program implementation

9 months

Ongoing school-based activities

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in cardiovascular risk factors and program effectiveness

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Enhanced Engagement
• Enhanced Resources
• Mentoring Program

Trial Overview The study tests a program called Healthy School Recognized Campus which includes mentoring, extra resources, and increased engagement to boost physical activity and nutrition among youth to lower their risk of heart disease.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Mentoring Program Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants in this group will receive the Mentoring Program strategy in addition to Healthy School Recognized Campus.

Group II: Mentoring + Enhanced Resources + Enhanced Engagement Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

Participants in this group will receive the Mentoring Program, Enhanced Resources, and Enhanced Engagement strategies in addition to Healthy School Recognized Campus.

Group III: Mentoring + Enhanced Resources Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Participants in this group will receive the Mentoring Program and Enhanced Resources strategies in addition to Healthy School Recognized Campus.

Group IV: Mentoring + Enhanced Engagement Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Participants in this group will receive the Mentoring Program and Enhanced Engagement strategies in addition to Healthy School Recognized Campus.

Group V: Enhanced Resources + Enhanced Engagement Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Participants in this group will receive the Enhanced Resources and Enhanced Engagement strategies in addition to Healthy School Recognized Campus.

Group VI: Enhanced Resources Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants in this group will receive the Enhanced Resources strategy in addition to Healthy School Recognized Campus.

Group VII: Enhanced Engagement Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants in this group will receive the Enhanced Engagement strategy in addition to Healthy School Recognized Campus.

Group VIII: No Intervention Active Control 1 Intervention

All schools will participate in the HSRC initiative. The requirements for the initiative are to complete a school-wide walking program, 1 youth, and 1 adult program from a list of available programs that make up the initiative.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Texas A&M University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

156

Recruited

28,900+

American Heart Association

Collaborator

Trials

352

Recruited

6,196,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

The 'Be a Fit Kid' program, implemented over 10 weeks in a fourth-grade curriculum, led to significant improvements in fitness, body fat, nutrition knowledge, and dietary habits among students.

Compared to a control group, the intervention group showed notable enhancements in cardiovascular health markers, suggesting that school-based physical activity and nutrition programs can effectively reduce the risk of lifestyle-related diseases.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Be a Fit Kid: nutrition and physical activity for the fourth grade. Slawta, JN., DeNeui, D.[2019]

The 'Know Your Body' (KYB) program effectively reduced several coronary heart disease risk factors among 1,041 black students over a longitudinal study that began in 1983, showing significant improvements in blood pressure and cholesterol levels during follow-ups.

Students with the best KYB teachers experienced notable reductions in total serum cholesterol after one year, indicating that the quality of program implementation plays a crucial role in its effectiveness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cardiovascular risk factor prevention in black school children: the "Know Your Body" evaluation project. Bush, PJ., Zuckerman, AE., Taggart, VS., et al.[2022]

The NHLBI has supported over a decade of research focused on improving cardiovascular health behaviors among youth through school and family-based programs, highlighting the importance of addressing these behaviors early in life.

A synthesis of 10 funded studies reveals diverse approaches, including curriculum changes, parental involvement, and environmental modifications, effectively targeting various age groups and ethnic/racial backgrounds to promote healthier lifestyles.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Synthesis of cardiovascular behavioral research for youth health promotion. Stone, EJ., Perry, CL., Luepker, RV.[2019]

The Heart Smart program effectively improved children's health knowledge and lunch choices, leading to significant reductions in cholesterol levels among those who selected healthier options.

The program's comprehensive approach, which included changes in school lunches, physical education, and cardiovascular screenings, resulted in improved exercise performance and increased levels of beneficial high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Heart Smart cardiovascular school health promotion: behavior correlates of risk factor change. Arbeit, ML., Johnson, CC., Mott, DS., et al.[2019]

The IMPROVE study is a cluster-randomized controlled trial involving 30 schools and approximately 1400 families, designed to evaluate the effectiveness of two different bundles of implementation strategies for the Healthy School Start program over 12 and 24 months.

The study aims to enhance intervention fidelity and monitor health outcomes related to childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes risk in parents, providing insights into effective implementation strategies tailored to specific school contexts.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

IMplementation and evaluation of the school-based family support PRogram a Healthy School Start to promote child health and prevent OVErweight and obesity (IMPROVE) - study protocol for a cluster-randomized trial. Elinder, LS., Wiklund, CA., Norman, Å., et al.[2021]

School-based physical activity interventions are effective in increasing fitness levels among schoolchildren, with strong evidence from 18 randomized controlled trials involving 6,207 participants, particularly from higher quality studies with a high dose of intervention.

While some interventions showed promise in reducing skin-fold thickness and increasing beneficial cholesterol levels, the effects on body mass index, body fat, and other cardiometabolic outcomes remain inconclusive, indicating a need for more high-quality studies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of school-based interventions for direct delivery of physical activity on fitness and cardiometabolic markers in children and adolescents: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Sun, C., Pezic, A., Tikellis, G., et al.[2018]

The CATCH study is a comprehensive intervention program targeting cardiovascular health behaviors in third to fifth graders across 96 schools in four states, focusing on improving eating habits, physical activity, and reducing cigarette smoking.

Phase II of the study emphasizes the importance of classroom curricula, school environmental changes, and family involvement to effectively promote cardiovascular health among youth, providing a structured framework for school-based health promotion.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

School-based cardiovascular health promotion: the child and adolescent trial for cardiovascular health (CATCH). Perry, CL., Stone, EJ., Parcel, GS., et al.[2019]

A 9-month randomized controlled trial involving 1,147 schoolchildren showed that fitness programs significantly improved fitness levels and reduced diastolic blood pressure and obesity in girls, indicating potential long-term cardiovascular benefits.

Nutrition interventions were effective in reducing fat and sugar intake among children, particularly in girls, but fitness programs yielded better results overall, suggesting that tailored health programs for boys and girls are necessary for optimal outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A controlled evaluation of a fitness and nutrition intervention program on cardiovascular health in 10- to 12-year-old children. Vandongen, R., Jenner, DA., Thompson, C., et al.[2019]

Incorporating community engagement principles in school-based obesity prevention interventions significantly improves the achievement of weight-related outcomes, with studies achieving an average of 46% of their targeted outcomes.

There is a strong positive correlation (r = 0.66) between the level of community engagement and overall outcome performance, indicating that effective partnerships and capacity-building efforts enhance the effectiveness of these health interventions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Community-engaged interventions on diet, activity, and weight outcomes in U.S. schools: a systematic review. Krishnaswami, J., Martinson, M., Wakimoto, P., et al.[2022]

The Heart Smart Family Health Promotion Program, involving 19 high-risk children and 23 parents over 12 weeks, successfully improved eating habits, physical activity, and cardiovascular knowledge, leading to significant health benefits.

Both children and parents experienced positive changes, including reduced blood pressure and stabilized weight gain in children, demonstrating the program's effectiveness as a cardiovascular risk intervention that can be adapted for clinical settings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cardiovascular intervention for high-risk families: the Heart Smart Program. Johnson, CC., Nicklas, TA., Arbeit, ML., et al.[2019]

The CATCH trial is evaluating the impact of a school-based cardiovascular health program enhanced by family involvement, with a focus on healthier eating and increased physical activity for students in Grades 3 to 5.

In the third-grade Family Fun Nights, the program achieved a 67% student participation rate, with an average family member to student ratio of 2:1, indicating strong engagement from families and teachers in promoting cardiovascular health.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

CATCH: family process evaluation in a multicenter trial. Johnson, CC., Osganian, SK., Budman, SB., et al.[2019]

The Spartners for Heart Health program aims to prevent cardiovascular disease risk factors in 5th grade students by enhancing their knowledge and behaviors related to nutrition and physical activity through a structured curriculum and mentorship from college students.

This pilot study involves a multi-disciplinary approach with assessments conducted at the beginning and end of the school year, indicating a focus on measurable outcomes in improving children's heart health and promoting sustainable interventions in schools.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

(S)Partners for Heart Health: a school-based program for enhancing physical activity and nutrition to promote cardiovascular health in 5th grade students. Carlson, JJ., Eisenmann, JC., Pfeiffer, KA., et al.[2021]

Citations

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School Programs for Youth Cardiovascular Health ... The EngAGE treatment is unique because it combines enhanced engagement, resources, and mentoring with a focus on school-based physical activity and nutrition ...

2. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0738399124001071

Effectiveness of a 5-year health empowerment programme ... This study demonstrates the long-term benefits of a HEP in enhancing cardiovascular health for adults from low-income families. It provides valuable insights ...

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12433798/

Real-world effectiveness of Motivational Enhancement for ... Among individuals with a SUD, MEET demonstrated real-world effectiveness for improving connections to step-down care, with participants ...

4. ahajournals.org ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.124.039239

Cardiovascular Health in the Transition From Adolescence ... This scientific statement addresses the critical need for cardiovascular health promotion during emerging adulthood, a transitional stage between the ages of ...

5. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03558828?tab=history&a=6

Record History | ver. 6: 2021-04-21 | NCT03558828 This table shows all the versions of this study record arranged in order by submitted date. To view one version of the study record, click the submitted ...

6. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jamacardiology/fullarticle/2807849

School-Based Cardiovascular Health Promotion in ... This randomized clinical trial compares the use of school-based health promotion interventions in adolescents in 2- vs 4-year programs, ...

7. cdc.gov cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/media/pdfs/2025/08/ENGAGE_Resource-for-Action_508c.pdf

Evidence-Based Strategies to Prevent Youth Substance Use This strategy includes school-based interventions that develop youth skills to prevent substance use initiation and to engage in healthy behaviors. Approach.

8. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4912040/

Staying Young at Heart: Cardiovascular Disease ... Both school-based [45] and out-of-school [46] programs can directly engage teens in health behavior change. Health care providers can ...

9. link.springer.com link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s44202-024-00147-0

Effective strategies and interventions for engaging at-risk ... This rapid systematic review evaluated the most recent literature on effective strategies and/or interventions to engage youth at-risk due to family violence.