Body Fat and Fitness Improvements in Hispanic and African American Girls

Objective The design of effective obesity interventions to reduce adiposity and increase fitness in minority children is a public health priority. This study assessed the effectiveness of a summer intervention in lowering adiposity and increasing aerobic endurance in minority girls. Methods 99 Hispanic and African American girls and their mothers participated. During the intervention, girls attended daily exercise, nutrition education, and counseling sessions from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Mothers attended 2-h weekly exercise, nutrition, and counseling sessions. Percent body fat, abdominal fat, and aerobic endurance (1-mile run/walk minutes) data were collected at pre- and post-intervention. Results A repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to test differences in adiposity indicators and aerobic endurance. Findings indicated statistically significant reductions in percent body fat (p < .001), abdominal fat (p < .001), and 1-mile run/walk minutes (p < .001). Conclusions This study demonstrated the effectiveness of a summer intervention in reducing adiposity indicators and increasing aerobic endurance.