ERIC Number: EJ1073699
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2015-Oct
Pages: 8
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-4391
EISSN: N/A
Improved Body Mass Index Measures Following a Middle School-Based Obesity Intervention--The MATCH Program
Lazorick, Suzanne; Fang, Xiangming; Hardison, George T.; Crawford, Yancey
Journal of School Health, v85 n10 p680-687 Oct 2015
Background: Motivating Adolescents with Technology to CHOOSE Health™ (MATCH) is an educational and behavioral intervention in seventh grade. Methods: Teachers in 2 schools delivered the MATCH curriculum, with 1 control school. Using a quasi-experimental design, outcome measures included lessons completed, body mass index (BMI), BMI z-score (zBMI), BMI percentile, weight category, and self-reported lifestyle behaviors. We used multiple regression models to compare group results. Results: For the MATCH group (N?=?189), teachers provided lessons over 14 weeks; the control group (N?=?173) received usual curriculum. Postintervention, the MATCH group had significant decreases in BMI measures compared with the control. In combined overweight and obese participants, the mean (95% confidence interval) zBMI change was -0.05 (-0.07, -0.03) in MATCH and -0.01 (-0.04, 0.02) in control, p?=?0.034 between groups. After 1 year, improvements are sustained: for the overweight subgroup, the mean zBMI decreased from 1.34 to 1.26 post-MATCH, then to 1.26 after 1 year; for the obese subgroup, mean zBMI?=?2.16, to 2.13 post-MATCH to 2.08 after 1 year. Self-reported lifestyle behaviors showed no differences. Conclusions: MATCH integrates theory-based strategies into standard curriculum delivered by teachers. No prior middle-school intervention has shown sustained change in BMI measures. MATCH warrants further study as a strategy to address obesity.
Descriptors: Body Composition, Body Weight, Early Adolescents, Grade 7, Control Groups, Experimental Groups, Comparative Analysis, Quasiexperimental Design, Scores, Life Style, Regression (Statistics), Teaching Methods, Behavior Modification, Program Effectiveness, Theories, Middle School Students
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Grade 7; Junior High Schools; Middle Schools; Elementary Education; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A