Mentoring to be Active: Peer Mentoring for Rural Appalachian Children to Reduce Overweight and Obesity
Official Title
Mentoring to be Active: Peer Mentoring for Rural Appalachian Children to Reduce Overweight and ObesityPurpose
The purpose of this study is to lower the rate of type 2 diabetes in rural Appalachia youth due to obesity and/or being overweight. Our long-term goal is to improve the health of underserved, high-risk youth.
This study will test the effectiveness of the Mentored Planning to be Active + Family on physical activity outcomes and health outcomes among rural Appalachian middle school aged youth suffering from either overweight or obesity.
We have local high school-aged teen mentors work closely with middle school youth to increase social support, self-efficacy, and self-regulation skills to sustain physical activity and improve health before the children enter high school.
The peer mentoring is followed by a 6-month family reinforcement program.
Some parents will provide child assessment data of perceived child physical activity behaviors and child health.
Could this study be right for you?
- Child has access to a computer or tablet device at home for virtual mentoring sessions/meetings
- Child suffers from overweight or obesity - does not need to be under the care of a health care professional for this condition
- Child and Parent able to participate read English at a 4th grade level.
- Family not expected to move from rural Appalachia within the 18 months.