Club Fit
Club Fit was an initiative designed to promote healthy habits and prevent excess weight gain among children at the Boys and Girls Club of Rochester, Minnesota (BGCR). Childhood obesity is linked to increased risk for cardiovascular and metabolic conditions, as well as psychosocial concerns such as bullying, stigma, and emotional difficulties. In the United States, approximately one-third of children and adolescents are overweight or obese, with disproportionate impacts on children from racial/ethnic minority groups and low-income households. BGCR serves more than 1,600 children annually, nearly two-thirds of whom identify as racial or ethnic minorities, and the majority of whom live in low-income homes. Through its youth development programming, BGCR emphasizes Health and Life Skills, including physical activity and nutrition, as a core area of focus.
The formative phase of Club Fit involved reviewing existing physical activity and nutrition programming and identifying opportunities for enhancement. Researchers conducted focus groups, surveys, and physical assessments to examine barriers, facilitators, and opportunities for sustaining healthy behaviors among BGCR members. Using these findings, BGCR leaders and staff partnered with health promotion experts from Mayo Clinic and RHCP to develop a physical activity and nutrition intervention integrated into regular BGCR programming. In the second phase, BGCR staff delivered the intervention while researchers conducted pre- and post-assessments to evaluate its effectiveness. Results showed improvements in participants’ motivation and self-efficacy for engaging in physical activity, as well as a dose-response relationship between participation in Club Fit activities and healthier body mass index. Following the evaluation, BGCR continued incorporating Club Fit components into its Health and Life Skills curriculum.
Funding
Mayo Clinic: Center for Clinical and Translational Science and Office of Health Disparities Research
Publications