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Cited by 444Obesity, Physical Activity, DietPhysical Activity and HealthObesity and Health Practices

A Community Intervention Reduces BMI z‐score in Children: Shape Up Somerville First Year Results

Economos, Christina D., Hyatt, Raymond R., Goldberg, Jeanne P., Must, Aviva, Naumova, Elena N., Collins, Jessica J., Nelson, Miriam E.·2007·Obesity
DOI 10.1038/oby.2007.155
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Abstract

Objective: The objective was to test the hypothesis that a community‐based environmental change intervention could prevent weight gain in young children (7.6 ± 1.0 years). Research Methods and Procedures: A non‐randomized controlled trial was conducted in three culturally diverse urban cities in Massachusetts. Somerville was the intervention community; two socio‐demographically‐matched cities were control communities. Children (n = 1178) in grades 1 to 3 attending public elementary schools participated in an intervention designed to bring the energy equation into balance by increasing physical activity options and availability of healthful foods within the before‐, during‐, after‐school, home, and community environments. Many groups and individuals within the community (including children, parents, teachers, school food service providers, city departments, policy makers, healthcare providers, before‐ and after‐school programs, restaurants, and the media) were engaged in the intervention. The main outcome measure was change in BMI z‐score. Results: At baseline, 44% (n = 385), 36% (n = 561), and 43% (n = 232) of children were above the 85th percentile for BMI z‐score in the intervention and the two control communities, respectively. In the intervention community, BMI z‐score decreased by −0.1005 (p = 0.001, 95% confidence interval, −0.1151 to −0.0859) compared with children in the control communities after controlling for baseline covariates. Discussion: A community‐based environmental change intervention decreased BMI z‐score in children at high risk for obesity. These results are significant given the obesigenic environmental backdrop against which the intervention occurred. This model demonstrates promise for communities throughout the country confronted with escalating childhood obesity rates.

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  • Multicomponent community-level interventions combining media and education with other approaches such as environmental changes to encourage healthier diets and more physical activity led to reductions in adiposity in children, but the effectiveness of the media/education component on physical activity as such is less clear.

    “Multicomponent community-level interventions that combine media and education with other approaches, such as environmental changes, to encourage healthier diets and more physical activity have led to reductions in adiposity in children,66 but the effectiveness of the media/education component on physical activity as such is less clear.”

    From Population Approaches to Improve Diet, Physical Activity, and Smoking Habits: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association (2012) · cites this paper as [66]

  • Another community-based, multicomponent intervention that included education of multiple stakeholders as well as changes in school and community environments demonstrated reductions in age-adjusted body mass index (BMI) of children in the intervention community, compared with control communities.

    “However, another community-based, multicomponent intervention that included education of multiple stakeholders as well as changes in school and community environments demonstrated reductions in age-adjusted body mass index (BMI) of children in the intervention community, compared with control communities.66”

    From Population Approaches to Improve Diet, Physical Activity, and Smoking Habits: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association (2012) · cites this paper as [66]

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Authors
Economos, C. D., Hyatt, R. R., Goldberg, J. P., Must, A., Naumova, E. N., Collins, J. J., & Nelson, M. E.
Affiliations
Tufts University (US)
Corresponding author
Economos, Christina D.
ORCID
Venue
Obesity
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2007-05
Volume
15
Issue
5
Pages
1325-1336
ISSN
  • 1930-7381 (ISSN-L)
  • 1930-739X
DOI
10.1038/oby.2007.155
OpenAlex
W2115830931
Cited by
444
References
59
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 26 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 24 · 2015: 44 · 2014: 26 · 2013: 42 · 2012: 52
FWCI
34.32
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor, 1955 d)
Locations
  • Obesity (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
  • U.S. Public Health Service (R06/CCR121519-01)
  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (P30DK046200)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Pharmacy › Obesity and Health Practices
Keywords
childhood obesity, BMI z-score, weight gain prevention, physical activity, healthy food availability, school meals, before and after school programs, urban communities
MeSH terms
Boston, Child, Child Health Services, Energy Metabolism, Family, Feeding Behavior, Female, Humans, Male, Obesity, Physical Fitness, Sports, Exercise, Body Mass Index, Walking, Cultural Diversity

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