Health Promotion Curricula for Obesity Prevention in American Indian Youth

Overseen By Velia L Nuno, PhD

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Northern Arizona University

Disqualifiers: Not in 3rd or 4th grade, allergies, physical limitations

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

120 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if a special health program (health promotion curricula) can prevent obesity in American Indian 4th graders by improving their diet and physical activity. Researchers will compare these students to 3rd graders not participating in the program to evaluate its effectiveness. The trial involves assessing participants' diet and activity through various methods. Children in the 3rd or 4th grade at participating schools, with parental consent and the ability to join a summer camp, are eligible. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity for participants to contribute to important research that could enhance health outcomes for future generations.

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 prior data suggests that this health promotion curricula is safe for 4th graders?

Research has shown that health programs in schools can help prevent obesity. Studies have found that these programs improve children's eating and exercise habits. For example, the Pathways study developed a school program to prevent obesity in American Indian children, successfully enhancing their eating and exercise habits without any reports of harm.

Another example is the Healthy Children, Strong Families program, which aimed to improve nutrition and activity in American Indian families. Participants in this program experienced better diets and weight improvements, with no significant negative effects reported, indicating it was well-tolerated.

These findings suggest that health programs are generally safe and beneficial for children, promoting healthier lifestyle choices without causing harm. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the health promotion curricula for obesity prevention in American Indian youth because it emphasizes education and lifestyle changes over traditional weight management approaches like medication or surgery. Unlike standard treatments that often focus on individual behavior, this curriculum aims to inspire community-wide healthy habits and cultural awareness, which may lead to more sustainable results. By targeting youth, it holds the promise of instilling lifelong healthy habits, potentially preventing obesity from developing in the first place.

What evidence suggests that this health promotion curricula is effective for preventing obesity in American Indian youth?

Research has shown that health programs tailored to cultural needs can help prevent obesity in American Indian children. For example, the Pathways study aimed to reduce body fat by encouraging healthier eating and more physical activity. It found that involving schools and families is crucial for success. This trial will test a health promotion curriculum as part of the intervention group, while the control group will continue with usual day-to-day activities. A review of similar programs found they had limited effects on weight. While these programs are promising, their success can vary depending on implementation and community involvement. ^{1 4 6 7 8}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for 4th graders in rural tribal schools to see if a health program can prevent obesity. They'll be compared with 3rd graders who won't get the program. Kids will have their skin carotenoids measured, recall what they ate, and have their height and weight checked.

Inclusion Criteria

I can attend the 3-day summer camp.

I can go to the initial health check-up.

Has parental consent

Exclusion Criteria

Youth who have not completed an application with any known allergies or limitations to physical activity will not be included

I am not in the 3rd or 4th grade.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Implementation of health promotion curricula among 4th graders, including culturally tailored health education focused on nutrition and physical activity

9 months

Ongoing school-based activities

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in physical activity, diet, and BMI using various measures such as accelerometers, dietary recalls, and Veggie Meter

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Health promotion curricula

Trial Overview Researchers are testing a culturally tailored health promotion curriculum designed to improve diet and physical activity among American Indian youth. The study aims to determine if this intervention effectively prevents obesity in comparison to no intervention.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Intervention group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Health promotion curricula includes

Group II: Control group Active Control 1 Intervention

No intervention, usual day to day activities

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Northern Arizona University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

36

Recruited

6,300+

University of Arizona

Collaborator

Trials

545

Recruited

161,000+

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Collaborator

Trials

14,080

Recruited

41,180,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

The Healthy Children, Strong Families intervention was developed collaboratively with three Wisconsin tribes to promote healthy eating and physical activity among American Indian preschool children and their caregivers, ensuring cultural relevance.

The program's educational curriculum is based on social cognitive and family systems theories, and it has been well-received, indicating its potential for adaptation and use in other American Indian communities for obesity prevention.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Development of a culturally appropriate, home-based nutrition and physical activity curriculum for Wisconsin American Indian families. LaRowe, TL., Wubben, DP., Cronin, KA., et al.[2022]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4868131/

Pathways: a culturally appropriate obesity-prevention program ... The Pathways study represents an innovative approach to the primary prevention of obesity in American Indian schoolchildren through a unique collaboration ...

2. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-obesity-2-2025-465a3

Health Promotion Curricula for Obesity Prevention in ... The goal of this study is to learn if a culturally relevant health promotion curricula prevents obesity among 4th graders in rural tribal schools.

3. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211335521000383

Review article Effectiveness of programs aimed at obesity ... This systematic review of programs to prevent obesity among Indigenous children finds a limited impact on anthropometric measurements.

4. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4915740/

Pathways: A school-based program for the primary prevention ... Pathways is a multicenter school-based study aimed at reducing the alanning increase in the prevalence of obesity in American Indian children. It is designed as ...

5. ajcn.nutrition.org ajcn.nutrition.org/article/S0002-9165(22)03430-X/pdf

Pathways: a school-based, randomized controlled trial for ... The Pathways study aimed to reduce body fat in American Indian children using dietary changes, increased activity, a classroom curriculum, and family ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6700460/

The Healthy Children, Strong Families 2 (HCSF2) ... American Indian (AI) families experience a disproportionate risk of obesity due to a number of complex reasons, including poverty, historic trauma, ...

7. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000291652203430X

Pathways: a school-based, randomized controlled trial for ... A 1990 national survey of 9464 American Indian children aged 5-18 y reported that 39% had a BMI above the 85th percentile of the second National Health and ...

8. cambridge.org cambridge.org/core/journals/public-health-nutrition/article/healthy-children-strong-families-intervention-promotes-improvements-in-nutrition-activity-and-body-weight-in-american-indian-families-with-young-children/76CD600E311CF211A5A05EFF796AD686

The Healthy Children, Strong Families intervention ... Primary outcomes were child BMI percentile, child BMI Z-score and adult BMI. Secondary outcomes included fruit/vegetable consumption, sugar consumption, ...