Participants: Children in the fifth grade, from 13 elementary schools in the Greater

Philadelphia area, participated in a three-year school-based intervention, which

included two levels of intervention schools, Core and Level 1, and Control schools.

Only results from the second year of the intervention are presented here.

Experimental Procedures: Intervention components took place throughout the entire

school year and consisted of a three-pronged approach that included nutrition,

physical activity and preventative health components. The Core schools received the

maximum level of intervention dosage, Level 1 schools received less frequent

interventions, while the Control schools did not receive an intervention.

Longitudinal Changes in Anthropometric Measures in Children in the 5th Grade

Brianna D. Higgins, Emily N. Werner, Abigail D. Gilman, Dorothy E. Hanrahan,

Kristen Kochenour, Patricia A. Shewokis, Stella L. Volpe, FACSM

Department of Nutrition Sciences

Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

In Philadelphia, PA, 40% of children, 6 to 17 years of age, are currently categorized as

overweight or obese. School-based interventions have been shown to be effective to

help increase healthy behaviors and decrease childhood obesity rates.

PURPOSE: To assess changes in body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference,

over the 2014 to 2015 school year, in children in the fifth grade, who were provided

health intervention programming.

METHODS: Children in the fifth grade, from 13 elementary schools in the Greater

Philadelphia area, participated in a three-year school-based intervention, which

included two levels of intervention schools, Core and Level 1, and Control schools;

however, results from the second year of the intervention are presented here.

Intervention components for Core schools included healthy lunches, produce tastings

and fitness classes. Level 1 schools included the same components as Core schools,

but with less frequency and without healthy lunches. Control schools received no

intervention. Anthropometric measures (height, body weight, BMI, waist circumference)

were taken at the beginning and end of the school year.

RESULTS: Baseline BMI were as follows: Core schools (n=202): 19.68 ± 4.41 kg/m2,

Level 1 schools (n=213): 20.68 ± 4.81 kg/m2, and Control schools (n=132): 20.66 ±5.33 kg/m2. Post-intervention BMI were as follows: Core schools: 20.32± 4.64 kg/m2

(p<0.001), Level 1 schools: 22.94 ± 11.64 kg/m2 (p=0.046), and Control schools:

21.14 ± 5.20 kg/m2 (p=0.3592). Baseline waist circumference were as follows: Core

schools: 67.16 ± 10.49 cm, Level 1 schools: 72.49 ± 13.62 cm, and Control schools:

70.19 ± 11.60 cm. Post-intervention waist circumference were as follows: Core

schools: 69.07 ± 11.31 cm (p<0.001), Level 1 schools 70.91 ± 11.60 cm (p=0.090),

and Control schools: 69.96 ± 12.70 cm (p=0.2279).

CONCLUSIONS: Significant increases were observed in BMI in the Core and Level 1

schools, with significant increases in waist circumference in the Core schools only,

from baseline to post-intervention. Although this school-based intervention may not

have led to changes in BMI or waist circumferences over one year, a longer term

intervention may provide positive changes in these measures.

• In students in the 5th grade, significant increases from baseline to follow-up

were observed in

• BMI in the Core (P < 0.001) and Level 1 schools (P < 0.05)

• Waist Circumference in the Core (P < 0.001) and Control schools

(P < 0.001)

• Although this school-based intervention may not have led to significant

positive changes in BMI or waist circumferences over one school year, a

longer term intervention may provide positive changes in these measures

*P < 0.05, **P <0.001

**P < 0.001

13 Healthy Futures Schools

4 Core Schools

5 Level 1 Schools

4 Control Schools

Funding Provided by: Independence Blue Cross Foundation

Data Collection: At baseline and follow-up of the 2014 to 2015 school year, height,

body weight, and waist circumference were measured. Height was measured using a

stadiometer, body weight was measured using a balance beam scale, and waist

circumference was measured using a tape measure one inch above the umbilicus.

Body mass index (BMI) was calculated using the equation: weight (in kilograms) divided

by height (in meters) squared.

Partner Core Level 1 Control

Vetri

Foundtion

for Children

• Eatiquette 1 to 2

days per week

• Up to 4 Culinary

Classrooms per

school year

• No programming • No programming

Greener

Partners

• Monthly in-classroom

Seed-2-Snack lessons

• 2 Farm Explorer

visits per year

• 4 in-classroom

Seed-2- Snack lessons

• 1 Farm Explorer

visit per year

• No programming

Villanova

University

• VioScreen for

all students

• Focus groups

• No programming • No programming

Fit

Essentials

•1 Fitness Period

weekly (45 minutes)

• Biannual

cardiovascular and

muscular

measurements

• 1 Fitness Period

monthly (45 minutes)

• Biannual

cardiovascular and

muscular

measurements

• No programming

Philadelphia

Union

• 2 coach/player visits

per year (90 minutes)

• 1 coach/player visit

per year (90 minutes)

• No programming

Children’s

Hospital of

Philadelphia

• Weekly Visits

• Biannual assessments

of height, body weight,

waist circumference

• Weekly Visits

• Biannual assessments

of height, body weight,

waist circumference

• No programming

• Biannual assessments

of height, body weight,

waist circumference

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

Core Level 1 Control

BM

I (k

g/m

2)

Intervention Level

Change in BMIBaseline Follow-up

Intervention Level NSex

(% Male)

Age in years

(Mean ± Standard

Deviation)

Core 202 56% 11.0 ± 0.8

Level 1 213 51% 11.0 ± 0.5

Control 132 50% 11.1 ± 0.9

54

56

58

60

62

64

66

68

70

72

74

76

78

80

82

84

86

Core Level 1 Control

Wais

t C

ircu

mfe

ren

ce

(c

m)

Intervention Level

Change in Waist Circumference

Baseline Follow-up

**

*

** **