Community-Based Participatory Research to Improve Health and Quality of Life of Latino Youth: Every Little Step Counts

Community-Based Participatory Research to Improve Health and Quality of Life of Latino Youth: Every Little Step Counts

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of a lifestyle intervention program on type 2 diabetes risk factors and quality of life in overweight Latino youth.

With the increasing prevalence of obesity, the incidence of obesity-related co-morbidities including depression and type 2 diabetes have emerged as critical public health conditions. Furthermore, Latinos experience a disproportionately greater burden of these obesity-related disorders. Therefore, we have developed a 12-week community-based lifestyle intervention that includes weekly education sessions for children and their parents and 3 exercise sessions per week for youth. The program will be delivered at a local YMCA in the greater Phoenix Metropolitan area.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Hispanic Ethnicity (Child and Parent)
• Age 14-16 (Child) and Parent age < 85
• BMI Percentile above the 85th (child)
• Ability to read and speak English (child)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Taking medication(s) or diagnosed with a condition that could influence exercise ability or carbohydrate metabolism (e.g., polycystic ovarian syndrome, exercise induced asthma, orthopedic limitations) (Child and (Parent OGTT only))
• Involved in any formal weight-loss program in the past 6 months (Child)
• Diagnosed diabetes (type 1 or type 2 Child)
• Weight is less than 110 Ibs (Child and Parent)