Clinical trial NCT01588379: Mothers and Girls Dancing Together Trial
Official title: Effects of an Afro-centric Dance Program for African-American Daughters and Mothers
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Physical Activity
Lead sponsor: University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2012-05-01
Enrollment: 152
Sex: FEMALE
Minimum age (years): 7
Maximum age (years): 11
Standard ages: CHILD
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: PREVENTION

Brief summary: The purpose of this study is to examine the feasibility and efficacy of a 12-week afterschool afro-centric dance physical activity program for daughters and mothers on the physical activity level of African-American girls.

Detailed description: Like African-American women, African-American girls suffer disproportionately from obesity and Type 2 diabetes mellitus. One factor strongly associated with the development of obesity and Type 2 diabetes mellitus disparities in children is low physical activity levels. Low physical activity is more prevalent in African-American girls, pointing to the critical need for effective physical activity interventions. For a physical activity intervention message to be effective among African-American girls, the program must be enjoyable and tailored to African-American girls and women. One possibility for an appropriate physical activity intervention is afro-centric dance, which has strong cultural and historical significance in the African-American community. This form of physical activity may provide girls with sustained bouts of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. There appears to be a strong positive correlation between parental and children physical activity levels. In the African-American culture, maternal health behaviors in particular have a strong influence on children's health behaviors. Currently, there are no studies that examine the effects of a daughter-mother Afro-centric dance program on the physical activity levels of African-American girls. Therefore, the purpose of this study will be to examine the feasibility and efficacy of a 12-week physical activity intervention consisting of afro-centric dance and its ability to affect the physical activity levels of African-American girls. If investigators identify afro-centric dance as a sustainable form of physical activity for African-American daughters and mothers, investigators can use this intervention to significantly reduce obesity and Type 2 diabetes mellitus in these groups.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria for Girls:

* 7 -10 yrs old on the date of randomization
* Defined as African-American if her parent/guardian identifies her as such
* No inclusion criteria will be used for mothers

Exclusion Criteria:

* Unable to wear the activity monitor
* Unable to participate in physical activity, require oxygen supplementation for exertion, have a developmental or physical disability preventing participation, cannot increase their physical activity for any reason, uncorrected structural heart disease)
* If girl and/or mother is unable to read, understand, or complete the informed consent or surveys in English.
* Musculoskeletal injuries or disorders that would prevent participation
* Taking diabetes (type 1 or 2), renal diseases, eating disorder, pregnancy medication
* Take medications affecting growth (e.g., insulin, oral hypoglycemic, thyroid hormone)

Primary outcomes:
measure: Change from baseline in physical activity level at 12-weeks
timeFrame: Baseline, 6-weeks and 12-weeks after study initiation
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Changes in body mass index, fasting insulin, and psychosocial
timeFrame: Baseline and 12-weeks after the initiation of the study protocol
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Springfield
country: United States
facility: Organizations, Churches, and Elementary Schools
state: Massachusetts
Study officials:
affiliation: University of Massachusetts, Amherst
name: Sofiya Alhassan, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Alhassan S, Nwaokelemeh O, Greever CJ, Burkart S, Ahmadi M, St Laurent CW, Barr-Anderson DJ. Effect of a culturally-tailored mother-daughter physical activity intervention on pre-adolescent African-American girls' physical activity levels. Prev Med Rep. 2018 May 9;11:7-14. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2018.05.009. eCollection 2018 Sep.