NCT03761589

Efficacy of the Athletes for Life Program to Promote Cardiovascular Health

Community-Academic Partnership to Promote Cardiovascular Health Among Underserved Children and Families

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 149 (actual)
• Sponsor: San Diego State University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 6 Years – 11 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The purpose of this study was to test the efficacy of a fitness- and behavioral-focused intervention, Athletes for Life (AFL), to improve cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) among 160 underserved families.

Detailed description

The Athletes for Life (AFL) study was a 12-week randomized controlled trial designed to promote cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and healthy lifestyle changes among parents and children. The original enrollment target was 160 families. A total of 149 parent-child dyads living in a Southwestern U.S. metropolitan area were enrolled in the study. AFL consisting of 24 structured, twice-weekly 90-min family-based, nutrition and sport/fitness-oriented sessions, and was delivered in a municipal recreation center. Behavior change, including increased physical activity, and adherence were motivated through positive reinforcement techniques. Families were randomized to either the AFL program or a wait-list control group.

Conditions

• Cardiovascular Fitness
• Physical Activity

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	AFL Intervention	The AFL intervention consisted of two 90-minute sessions per week for 12 months for both children and parents. The child physical activity sessions, held separately from the parent sessions, aimed to achieve 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity during each session through structured play activities, athletic drills, and sport exercises. Child dietary behaviors were taught through educational activities in small groups. For the parent program, behavior modification techniques were used to guide parents toward changing their own and their child's behavior. Take-home materials for self-monitoring of behaviors were used for both the child and the parent in order to reinforce concepts discussed in class.
BEHAVIORAL	Wait-List Control	Families that were randomly assigned to the wait-list control group were asked not to change their normal physical activity or dietary behaviors for the duration of the 12-week waiting period. They were asked to participate in the baseline and 12-week evaluations and then they were enrolled to receive the 12-week intervention.

Timeline

• Start date: 2016-07-01
• Primary completion: 2018-03-31
• Completion: 2018-06-30
• First posted: 2018-12-03
• Last updated: 2025-04-13

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States