Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 10, 2026
A Novel Digital Platform for a Monitored Home-based Cardiac Rehabilitation Program
Published on: April 19, 2019
Impact of a park-based afterschool program replicated over five years on modifiable cardiovascular disease risk
Sarah E Messiah1, Denise Vidot2, Eric Hansen3
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA; Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
Insights
The Fit2Play™ afterschool program significantly reduced body mass index (BMI) percentile and cardiovascular disease risk factors in children. This accessible program offers a valuable approach to preventing and treating childhood obesity, especially in high-risk populations.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
- Exercise Science
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a major epidemic with challenges in program accessibility and affordability.
- Effective, scalable interventions are needed to address obesity-related cardiovascular disease risk factors in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of the Fit2Play™ afterschool program on modifiable, obesity-related cardiovascular disease risk factors.
- To assess program effectiveness in normal weight, overweight, and obese children aged 6-14.
Main Methods:
- A one-year intervention study involving 1546 children (2010-2015) in an urban county parks system.
- Collected data included height, weight, skinfold thickness, blood pressure, fitness tests, and health/wellness knowledge.
- Analyzed pre/post outcome measures using general linear mixed models.
Main Results:
- Obese and overweight children showed significant decreases in mean body mass index (BMI) percentile (p<0.001).
- Normal weight children maintained a healthy BMI percentile.
- Significant reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure (p<0.001) and improvements in fitness and nutrition knowledge were observed across all participants (p<0.001).
Conclusions:
- Parks-based afterschool programs like Fit2Play™ are effective, low-cost interventions for childhood obesity.
- These programs demonstrate significant value in preventing and treating obesity and related risk factors, particularly in high-risk groups.
Abstract:
Major challenges to the current childhood obesity epidemic include availability of prevention and/or treatment programs that are affordable and acc5essible. We evaluated the change in several modifiable, obesity-related cardiovascular disease risk factors after participation in Fit2Play™, a structured afterschool program housed in a large urban county parks system. Children ages 6-14 who participated in Fit2Play™ in one of 34 parks for one school year during a five-year period (2010-2015) had height, weight, 4-site skinfold thicknesses, systolic/diastolic blood pressure (SBP/DBP), fitness tests, and a health/wellness behavior/knowledge test collected at the beginning and end of the school year. Comparison of pre/post outcome measures were assessed via general linear mixed models for normal weight, overweight, and obese participants and both aggregate and cohort/year-specific results were generated. Aggregate (N=1546, 51% Hispanic, 44% NHB) results showed after one year of participation (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2016) both the obese and overweight groups significantly decreased their mean body mass index (BMI) percentile (98th to 95th percentile, p<0.001; 91st percentile to 89th percentile, p<0.001, respectively); (Ogden et al. 2015) the normal weight group maintained a healthy BMI percentile (54.6th); (Ogden et al., 2014) mean SBP and DBP significantly decreased (3.6 percentile and 6 percentile points, respectively, p<0.001 for both). Mean number of sit-ups, push-ups, 400meter run time, and nutrition knowledge scores improved in all participants (p<0.001 for all). These findings suggest that parks-based afterschool health/wellness programs can be a low-cost, high value tool in both preventing and treating the current childhood obesity epidemic and among high-risk groups in particular.
More Related Videos
07:40Impact of High-intensity Interval Exercise and Moderate-Intensity Continuous Exercise on the Cardiac Troponin T Level at an Early Stage of Training
Published on: October 10, 2019
05:59Visualization of Intensity Levels to Reduce the Gap Between Self-Reported and Directly Measured Physical Activity
Published on: March 7, 2019
Related Concept Videos
01:20Exercise and Cardiovascular Response
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...
01:17Exercise and Cardiac Output
Sustained exercise increases the muscles' oxygen demand, which can be...
01:26Coronary Artery Disease IV: Preventive Measures
01:30Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction
01:30Factors Influencing Heart Rate
Let us explore the significant factors affecting heart rate, including age, body temperature, posture, acute pain, chemical influences,...
01:26Atherosclerosis III: Management