NCT06596902

Promoting Physical Activity and Fitness Among Underserved Latino Families Living in U.S.-Mexico Border Regions

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 290 (estimated)
• Sponsor: San Diego State University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 6 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This study has the goal to increase physical activity and fitness among Latinos in San Diego, California and Mexicali, Baja California (U.S.-Mexico border) since these cities have similar diseases such as high rates of heart disease and obesity. Therefore there is a need to have physical activity programs for children and their families. We will collaborate with community centers to have this program available.

Detailed description

The U.S. and Mexico share similar population disease patterns such as high rates of chronic diseases (e.g.,heart disease and obesity). Individuals residing in border regions often travel back and forth between the U.S. and Mexico, which exposes them to both different and similar obesogenic, socio-cultural, and physical environments. This frequent transnational interaction has led researchers to classify border cities as one region that should be studied as a whole. As such, it is important to systematically study border populations and develop effective interventions and public policy for this region. This study will test the efficacy and sustainability of a 12-month family-centered behavioral cluster randomized intervention, Athletes for Life (AFL), plus a 1-year active sustainability phase in community recreation centers in San Diego, California (U.S.) and Mexicali, Baja California (Mexico). This study will also assess intervention implementation outcomes, including program acceptability and feasibility by families and community recreation center staff. A total of 8 community recreation centers and 290 parent/child dyads (4 in San Diego and 4 in Mexicali) will be randomized to either a control group consisting of standard recreation center classes (delivered by regular recreation center staff) or an experimental group consisting of the multilevel AFL behavioral intervention (delivered by study staff). This study aims to increase total habitual physical activity (PA) and cardiovascular fitness (CVF) in a U.S.-Mexico transborder population that experiences disproportionately high rates of obesity. We will harness our research team's extensive experience in developing multi-level interventions to promote behavior change among Latinos, and leverage a strong community-academic collaboration that maximizes community impact and sustainability. The long-term goal of this project is to reduce cardiovascular disease and cardiometabolic risk factors among underserved children and their families in the US-Mexico border region. This research will provide novel empirical evidence for the efficacy, scalability, and sustainability of a multilevel fitness- and lifestyle-oriented family approach delivered in collaboration with community centers among underserved Latino families in the U.S.-Mexico border region.

Conditions

• Obesity Prevention
• Heart Disease

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Physical Activity	The 12-month intervention will progressively increase in intensity and complexity to teach parents/children more complex sports skills and behavioral techniques, to prepare them to become future team leaders for nutrition education and sports sessions. In addition, the family Olympics events will take place after every 3-month to reinforce progression, social support; progressive improvements: Phase 1: Beginner (months 0-3) will focus on introductory concepts and basic sports skills and will focus on establishing consistent behavioral patterns and social support. Phase 2: Intermediate (months 4-6) will begin to introduce slightly more complex nutrition behavioral concepts and increase difficulty of sport skills, and reinforce behavioral patterns from phase 1. Phase 4: Advanced (months 10-12) will teach parents and children advanced sports skills ; nutrition knowledge so that they may become team leaders to help implement future activity sessions and nutrition education sessions.

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-06-24
• Primary completion: 2027-03-01
• Completion: 2029-01-01
• First posted: 2024-09-19
• Last updated: 2025-10-06

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States