Club Fit (completed)

Club Fit was an initiative aimed at promoting healthy habits and preventing excess weight gain among children members at the Boys and Girls Club of Rochester, Minnesota (BGCR). Obesity is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular, metabolic, and other health conditions and for psychosocial concerns such as bullying, stigma, and emotional difficulties. Approximately one-third of children and adolescents in the U.S. are obese or overweight. Childhood obesity disproportionately affects children of ethnic minorities and low-income populations. BGCR serves over 1,600 children each year. Close to two-thirds are from racial/ethnic minority groups, and a majority live in low-income homes. BGCR offers youth development programs and services in several core areas including Health and Life Skills, which focus on physical activity and nutrition.

The initial formative phase of Club Fit was to review existing physical activity and nutrition programming, and to define opportunities to enhance these programs at BGCR. During this phase, researchers conducted focus groups, surveys, and physical measures to assess perceived barriers, facilitators, and opportunities for improvement to sustaining healthful physical activity and nutrition behaviors among BGCR members.

BGCR leaders and staff worked with health promotion experts from Mayo Clinic and RHCP to develop a physical activity and nutrition intervention administered as part of regular programming at BGCR. 

In the second phase, BGCR staff administered the intervention, while researchers conducted pre-post assessments among Club members, to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention.  Assessments demonstrated an improvement in members’ motivation and self-efficacy for engaging in regular physical activity. The evaluation also showed a dose-response relationship between participation in Club Fit activities and healthier body mass index. Following the formal evaluation, BGCR continued to utilize the Club Fit intervention elements as part of its Health and Life Skills curriculum.

Funding

Mayo Clinic: Center for Clinical and Translational Science and Office of Health Disparities Research