Comprehensive Versus Traditional Lifestyle Program

THINK (Translational Health in Nutrition and Kinesiology) Junior Edition

Despite recommends that school-based interventions use a comprehensive approach for health promotions; most fitness programs exclusively emphasize physical activity. This study compared the comprehensive Translational Health in Nutrition and Kinesiology (THINK) program to a traditional YMCA program (The Sports, Play, and Active Recreation for Kids (SPARK) fitness curriculum) on measures of physical fitness, body composition, and executive cognitive function outcomes among 105 ethnic minority children (9±1.03 years old) following a 10-week intervention period.

Despite recommendations that school-based interventions use a comprehensive approaches for health promotions; most fitness programs exclusively emphasize physical activity. This study compared the comprehensive Translational Health in Nutrition and Kinesiology (THINK) program to a traditional YMCA program (The Sports, Play, and Active Recreation for Kids (SPARK) fitness curriculum) on measures of physical fitness, body composition, and executive cognitive function outcomes among 105 predominantly, ethnic minority children (9±1.03 years old) following a 10week intervention period.

Inclusion Criteria:

• To be eligible for this study, subjects had to be between the ages of eight and 12, enrolled in a YMCA program, and able to participate in physical activity. Parents were provided with information packets regarding project details, a parental consent form, and a child assent form. Once the subjects assented and parents consented, a health questionnaire regarding child's age, gender, race/ethnicity, health history and SES was completed.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Subjects with metabolic, cardiovascular, neuromuscular and psychological disorders and with medications that would interfere with testing results were excluded from the study.