Clinical trial NCT05758441: Mentoring to be Active for Rural Appalachia Children
Official title: Mentoring to be Active: Peer Mentoring to Mitigate Obesity and Extreme Obesity in Rural Appalachian Children
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: RECRUITING
Phase: NA
Conditions: Physical Activity
Exercise
Body Composition
Keywords: Physical Activity, Body Composition, Health Behavior
Lead sponsor: Ohio State University
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2023-03-07
Enrollment: 432
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 11
Standard ages: CHILD
ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Intervention model description: For this community-based study, a stratified randomized-controlled clinical trial will evaluate MPBA+F among 7/8th grade children with overweight or obesity recruited during years 1 and 2 of the study from rural Appalachian counties. Stratification by biological sex to have equal numbers of males and females will occur. Investigators will recruit 288 children to participate. Half will be randomized to receive MPBA+F; the other half will receive a comparison program of 10 weekly, self-guided modules from mailed to their home. By following participants from the start of 7th grade (baseline) through the middle of 8th grade, longer-term effects on PA outcomes and body composition can be determined. Differences in outcomes are explored by examining sub-group differences on effects. A sub-set of parents from both study conditions will be recruited (72 parents from each condition) to provide child assessments of perceived PA behaviors and perceived child health.
Primary purpose: PREVENTION

Brief summary: The innovative MPBA+F begins with peer-to-peer mentoring followed by structured parental/family support for long-term reinforcement of PA behaviors. Building and reinforcing skills, MPBA+F mitigates resource stressors and strengthens protective factors by providing culturally appropriate knowledge and skills to improve the sustainability of physical activity at home without the use of exercise equipment. By strengthening social support through peer and friendship networks and family-based support, MPBA+F responds to the unique needs of rural Appalachians in a culturally responsive way. This study targets physical activity among children with overweight, obesity, or extreme obesity because rural Appalachian communities identify sedentary activity as a key contributor to the high rates of obesity and diabetes risk among youth.

Detailed description: Appalachians die more frequently and at younger ages from obesity-related conditions than those living elsewhere. High prevalence of overweight, obesity, and extreme obesity in Appalachian children increases the severity of diabetes. In rural Appalachia, the diabetes mortality rate is 11% higher than the national rate.Over the course of two years, this study will test the effects of the Mentored Planning to be Active + Family intervention on physical activity outcomes (MVPA, exercise "bouts", sedentary behavior) and health outcomes (body composition: BMI, body fat, % body fat, weight) among rural Appalachian 7/8th grade children suffering from overweight and obesity. Having teens deliver the content via structured peer mentoring increases social support, motivation, and self-regulation to sustain PA behaviors to improve health outcomes as children enter high school. Using local residents for intervention delivery leverages rural Appalachians' preference to receive health information via established social networks and extends delivery of the program into the community. This study is a community-based randomized controlled trial targeting 7th grade students in rural Appalachia. Half (n = 144) will receive MPBA+F; the other half (n = 144) will receive self-guided (usual care) modules. Tenth-grade (n = 73) students from the same rural Appalachian counties will serve as peer mentors delivering MPBA for the peer mentoring group. Parents will provide a family reinforcement program during 8th grade and provide assessments of child behaviors and health outcomes. The long-term goal is to reduce the high rates of OW, OB/EO and type 2 diabetes in Appalachia youth through effective, sustainable interventions. Improving self-regulation, self-efficacy, and social support to increase intentional exercise and MVPA among underserved youth suffering from early-onset OB/EO builds healthier lifestyle behaviors at a critical development time.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

Children:

* enrolled in 7th grade at the start of the study,
* have a body mass index percentile of 85th or greater for age and gender,
* not under medical care for OB or type 1 diabetes,
* have reliable internet connection at home,
* have access to a computer, laptop or tablet at home,
* not expected to move from the participating county before the conclusion of the study.

Parents:

* read at a 5th grade-level,
* speak English,
* have a home-mailing address (not PO box),
* have a working telephone number, and
* are not expected to move from the participating county before study conclusion.

High school peer mentors:

* are in either 10th or 11th grade at the start of the recruitment,
* reside in a targeted county,
* interested in working with peers, supporting others, and striving to cultivate their own health-supportive behaviors,
* have reliable internet connection at home,
* have access to a computer, laptop or tablet at home,
* are not expected to move before the intervention ends,
* can speak English,
* are recommended by a teacher, school advisor, or counselor.

Exclusion Criteria:

Child:

* not in 7th grade at the start of the study.
* not able to read or Speak English;
* not classified as either overweight or obese at start of study.

Parents :

- not able to read or speak English.

High school peer mentors:

- cannot speak and read English.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Change in Daily Physical Activity
timeFrame: 7 days- collected at baseline, at week 12 when mentoring sessions end, and at 9 months when the reinforcement program ends
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Change in Body Composition
timeFrame: baseline, at 12 weeks when mentoring sessions end, and at 9 months when the reinforcement program ends.
Other outcomes:
measure: Change in Parent Perceptions of Child's Physical Activity Behaviors
timeFrame: Baseline and at 9 months when the reinforcement program ends.
measure: Change in Parent Perceptions of Child's General Health
timeFrame: Baseline and at 9 months when the reinforcement program ends.
Locations:
city: Columbus
country: United States
facility: Ohio State University College of Nursing
state: Ohio
Study officials:
References: