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Chronic DiseasesH&ANCT02043626

Study to Evaluate the Health and Wellness Policies of the New Haven Public School District.

A study testing DISTRICT WELLNESS COMMITTEE, NUTRITIONAL QUALITY OF FOODS AND BEVERAGES ON CAMPUS and HEALTH PROMOTION AND MARKETING in people with Chronic Diseases and Obesity, run by Yale University at 1 site in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

Our long-term objective is to reduce the rates and risk of childhood obesity via school-based nutrition and physical activity policies. Using a randomized design, we propose to monitor and evaluate how Connecticut's first-ranked District Wellness Policy, in the New Haven Public School district, is implemented and… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 9 to 14 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Chronic Diseases, Obesity
What is being tested?
DISTRICT WELLNESS COMMITTEE, NUTRITIONAL QUALITY OF FOODS AND BEVERAGES ON CAMPUS and HEALTH PROMOTION AND MARKETING
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
796 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
Aug 2011to Jun 2016
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 9 to 14 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Child

Who may be able to join

  • Student of the New Haven School District--State of Connecticut
  • Enrolled in 12 eligible schools participating in study
  • Child between the ages of 9 and 14 or in grades 5-8 as of the fall of 2011
  • Primary Language of communication is English

Who cannot join

  • Not enrolled in one of 12 participating schools
  • Not in target grade (5-8) as of the fall 2011

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • Yale University

    New Haven, Connecticut, 06520

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: School Wellness Policy: RCT to Implement & Evaluate Impact on Childhood Obesity

Our long-term objective is to reduce the rates and risk of childhood obesity via school-based nutrition and physical activity policies. Using a randomized design, we propose to monitor and evaluate how Connecticut's first-ranked District Wellness Policy, in the New Haven Public School district, is implemented and determine its impact on children's obesogenic behaviors, weight outcomes, and school performance. This study is designed to significantly advance empirical research on school wellness policies and to provide important evidence to guide future interventions in schools and communities - translating science to improved health of the public.

Read the detailed description

Consistent with NIH priorities, our long-term objective is to reduce the rates and risk of childhood obesity via school-based nutrition and physical activity policies. We propose to monitor and evaluate how Connecticut's first-ranked School Wellness Policy, in the New Haven Public School district, is implemented and determine its impact on children's obesogenic behaviors, weight outcomes, and school performance. We will evaluate a strategy of implementation at 12 targeted schools using a randomized design. Focusing on targeted schools will enable a more rigorous evaluation of School Wellness Policy implementation, barriers/facilitators, and ultimately the behavioral and health impacts of school-based policies on childhood obesity. We propose a multi-level assessment of factors that may influence childhood obesity using the Ecological Model as a guiding framework.

Thus we propose a multi-sectoral, multi-level approach, focused on children, families, schools, and community. This ambitious project is possible because of the expertise and strong collaborative partnerships between The New Haven Public Schools and two Yale University research centers: The Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity and CARE: Community Alliance for Research and Engagement. Our partnership builds on Principles and Guidelines for Community-University Research Partnerships developed by a 12-member committee of community and university leaders and endorsed by Yale University and community partners in 2009.

This study is designed to significantly advance empirical research on school wellness policies: focused on implementation and measurable impact on student health. No matter how well written, a school wellness policy must be effectively implemented to achieve its potential impact. Further, students within schools represent only two components of a larger socio-ecological system that influences eating behavior, physical activity, and weight status. The federal mandate for school wellness policies requires districts to address many aspects of the school environment (e.g., nutrition education, nutrition standards for foods sold, and opportunities for physical activity). To maximize improvements, this type of multi-component policy is needed. However, this complexity makes it difficult to evaluate policy impact and draw conclusions about the causal relationships between specific policies and student health. With our team's unique strengths and these challenges in mind, we designed this research study with the following Specific Aims:

  1. Track and evaluate a strategy of targeted implementation of a School Wellness Policy.
  2. Identify factors that facilitate or impede implementation of The School Wellness Policy, including neighborhood, school, and student determinants; and
  3. Evaluate the impact of implementation of The School Wellness Policy on obesogenic behaviors and health outcomes as well as school performance.

We will collaborate with the District to implement a subset of nutrition and physical activity policies in 12 schools using a randomized 2 x 2 research design. This will permit comparison of the potential unique and synergistic effects of these nutrition and physical activity policies on student behaviors and related health outcomes. We will follow a cohort of 5th grade students (N≈700) annually for four years to assess potential changes to student eating behaviors, physical activity levels, and BMI. We use a multi-method approach to collect data and examine predictors of these outcomes from across levels of the socio-ecological framework: student variables, family characteristics, school policies, and neighborhood features.

This multidisciplinary proposal is synchronous with specific research objectives articulated in Program Announcement (PA-10-052) School Nutrition and Physical Activity Policies, Obesogenic Behaviors and Weight Outcomes. As noted, few studies to date have examined the policy implementation process. We directly target the implementation and impact of health-related policies in schools, measuring obesogenic behaviors and BMI as primary outcomes. We have an active tracking system to monitor impact of policies, and we focus on minority populations traditionally vulnerable and underserved. As stated by NIH in this program announcement, policy-based approaches to combat obesity in schools exist; however, knowledge is lacking in key areas concerning the optimal policies, key implementation strategies for such policies, and the impact of these policies on important health and social outcomes. The proposed project will advance scientific knowledge and understanding in this arena and provide important evidence to guide future interventions in schools and communities translating science to improved health of the public.

Being tested
DISTRICT WELLNESS COMMITTEE, NUTRITIONAL QUALITY OF FOODS AND BEVERAGES ON CAMPUS, HEALTH PROMOTION AND MARKETING, OPPORTUNITIES FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Keywords
childhood nutrition, physical activity, school wellness, school health, nutritional policies, childhood obesity
Medical subject headings
Chronic Disease, Obesity, Motor Activity, Pediatric Obesity

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • DISTRICT WELLNESS COMMITTEEOther

    Three Targeted Schools (N+PA) will expand the District's school based wellness initiative, PAW-Physical Activity and Wellness. With District support, PAW schools develop School Wellness Teams (SWTs) to identify school health priorities, implement and sustain health initiatives through school campaigns, promote healthy behavior, and support wellness policies. Results from a 3-year evaluation suggest significant and sustained positive impact on school health culture, student behavior, time-on-task, and increased physical activity among students.

  • NUTRITIONAL QUALITY OF FOODS AND BEVERAGES ON CAMPUSOther

    Policy changes will focus on 6 target schools. District will expand nutrition education by integrating other opportunities to learn and practice healthy behaviors across disciplines. Farm-to-School programs will include school visits by farmers to teach students about agriculture, healthy foods and nutrition, coinciding with Farmer's Market Menu Days. Schools will receive four 45 minute nutrition workshops per year. Community educators will offer culturally appropriate, interactive nutrition workshops and cooking demonstrations. Cafeterias will receive youth friendly nutritional messaging, regular promotion of new menu foods, and a variety of monthly nutrition-focused activities. The goals are to: increase number of students who try new menu items regularly, increase acceptance of healthy foods, and improve nutrition literacy. Policy states schools will limit celebrations that involve food to no more than 1 per class/month: 6 schools will pilot alternatives to food for celebrations.

  • HEALTH PROMOTION AND MARKETINGOther

    SWP addresses health promotion and marketing by limiting product marketing in schools, expanding nutrition education and broadening health communication with parents. In 3 targeted schools, we expand to include Staff Wellness Promotion. Adults in schools are trusted and influential role models for students; by increasing their positive health behaviors, students may be influenced to adopt similar behaviors. The District will work with the City's Employee Wellness Program to increase school staff participation.

  • OPPORTUNITIES FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITYOther

    District-wide policies include mandates for daily physical activity and PE and development of policies that prohibit withholding PE for punitive reasons. To further increase physical activity, the School Wellness Policy specifies expanding programs/activities that meet need, interest, and abilities of students. Exer-gaming consoles will be provided to 6 schools and will be integrated into 5th-8th grade PE classes and after-school programs. New and innovate gym equipment will be purchased for the 6 target schools for use in gym class and after school programming. Various pedometer and interactive programs encouraging physical activity in and outside of school are planned for the 6th grade.

Study groups in NCT02043626
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Physical Activity OnlyExperimentalStudents in 3 designated study schools will receive educational intervention and increased opportunities for physical activity.
Receives: Other: OPPORTUNITIES FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Delayed Interventions OnlyNo interventionStudents in 3 designated schools will receive educational interventions on health topics not related to nutrition or physical activity (i.e. peer relations, sleep, dental care, etc.)
Nutrition and Physical ActivityExperimentalStudents in 3 designated schools will receive nutrition education, nutrition standards for foods sold, and opportunities for physical activity.
Receives: Other: DISTRICT WELLNESS COMMITTEE; Other: NUTRITIONAL QUALITY OF FOODS AND BEVERAGES ON CAMPUS; Other: HEALTH PROMOTION AND MARKETING; Other: OPPORTUNITIES FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Nutrition Only InterventionsExperimentalStudents in 3 designated study schools will receive multiple interventions regarding nutrition education and nutrition standards for foods sold.
Receives: Other: NUTRITIONAL QUALITY OF FOODS AND BEVERAGES ON CAMPUS

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Change in body mass index (BMI).

    Body weight and height to calculate BMI annually from baseline (grade 5) through follow-up (grade 8)

    Measured: Baseline through Follow-up: Grades 5-6-7-8

Secondary outcomes (4)
  1. Change in student nutritional habits (eating behaviors).

    Surveying student nutritional habits and close observation of nutritional habits (food consumed) in school.

    Measured: Baseline through Follow-up: Grades 5-6-7-8

  2. Change in level of physical activity.

    Surveying of student physical activity habits and observation of student participation in class time or after school physical activity programs.

    Measured: Baseline through Follow-up: Grades 5-6-7-8

  3. Mental Health

    Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire screens child mental health problems, five subscales: emotional problems, hyperactivity, relationship, conduct and pro-social behavior.

    Measured: Baseline through Follow-up: Grades 5-6-7-8

  4. Standardized test scores

    Standardized test scores, reading and mathematics

    Measured: Baseline through Follow-up: Grades 5-6-7-8

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted23 Jan 2014 (estimated)
  2. Study startAug 2011
  3. Primary completionJun 2016
  4. Study completionJun 2016

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Factorial
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
796 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT02043626
Sponsor's protocol ID
1008007295
Other IDs
5R01HD070740
Acronym
H&A
Status last verified
Jan 2018
First submitted
20 Jan 2014
Last updated
17 Jan 2018
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No

Publications

  • Ickovics JR, Carroll-Scott A, Peters SM, Schwartz M, Gilstad-Hayden K, McCaslin C. Health and academic achievement: cumulative effects of health assets on standardized test scores among urban youth in the United States. J Sch Health. 2014 Jan;84(1):40-8. doi: 10.1111/josh.12117.

    PubMed 24320151
  • Kallem S, Carroll-Scott A, Rosenthal L, Chen E, Peters SM, McCaslin C, Ickovics JR. Shift-and-persist: a protective factor for elevated BMI among low-socioeconomic-status children. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2013 Sep;21(9):1759-63. doi: 10.1002/oby.20195. Epub 2013 May 13.

    PubMed 23671041
  • Kallem S, Carroll-Scott A, Gilstad-Hayden K, Peters SM, McCaslin C, Ickovics JR. Children's report of lifestyle counseling differs by BMI status. Child Obes. 2013 Jun;9(3):216-22. doi: 10.1089/chi.2012.0100. Epub 2013 Apr 30.

    PubMed 23631343
  • Wang S, Schwartz MB, Shebl FM, Read M, Henderson KE, Ickovics JR. School breakfast and body mass index: a longitudinal observational study of middle school students. Pediatr Obes. 2017 Jun;12(3):213-220. doi: 10.1111/ijpo.12127. Epub 2016 Mar 17.

    PubMed 26989876
  • Carroll-Scott A, Gilstad-Hayden K, Rosenthal L, Eldahan A, McCaslin C, Peters SM, Ickovics JR. Associations of Neighborhood and School Socioeconomic and Social Contexts With Body Mass Index Among Urban Preadolescent Students. Am J Public Health. 2015 Dec;105(12):2496-502. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2015.302882. Epub 2015 Oct 15.

    PubMed 26469652
  • Chandler I, Rosenthal L, Carroll-Scott A, Peters SM, McCaslin C, Ickovics JR. Adolescents Who Visit the Emergency Department Are More Likely to Make Unhealthy Dietary Choices: An Opportunity for Behavioral Intervention. J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2015 Aug;26(3):701-11. doi: 10.1353/hpu.2015.0086.

    PubMed 26320906
  • Schwartz DL, Gilstad-Hayden K, Carroll-Scott A, Grilo SA, McCaslin C, Schwartz M, Ickovics JR. Energy drinks and youth self-reported hyperactivity/inattention symptoms. Acad Pediatr. 2015 May-Jun;15(3):297-304. doi: 10.1016/j.acap.2014.11.006. Epub 2015 Feb 9.

    PubMed 25676784
  • Schwartz MB, Gilstad-Hayden K, Henderson KE, Luedicke J, Carroll-Scott A, Peters SM, McCaslin C, Ickovics JR. The Relationship between Parental Behaviors and Children's Sugary Drink Consumption Is Moderated by a Television in the Child's Bedroom. Child Obes. 2015 Oct;11(5):560-8. doi: 10.1089/chi.2014.0041. Epub 2015 Aug 28.

    PubMed 26317365
  • Rosenthal L, Earnshaw VA, Carroll-Scott A, Henderson KE, Peters SM, McCaslin C, Ickovics JR. Weight- and race-based bullying: health associations among urban adolescents. J Health Psychol. 2015 Apr;20(4):401-12. doi: 10.1177/1359105313502567. Epub 2013 Oct 22.

    PubMed 24155192
  • Jernigan MM, Rosenthal L, Carroll-Scott A, Peters SM, McCaslin C, Ickovics JR. Emotional Health Predicts Changes in Body Mass Index (BMI-z) Among Black and Latino Youth. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2015 Jun;54(7):693-6. doi: 10.1177/0009922815574080. Epub 2015 Feb 26. No abstract available.

    PubMed 25724990
  • Smith LP, Gilstad-Hayden K, Carroll-Scott A, Ickovics J. High waist circumference is associated with elevated blood pressure in non-Hispanic White but not Hispanic children in a cohort of pre-adolescent children. Pediatr Obes. 2014 Dec;9(6):e145-8. doi: 10.1111/ijpo.246. Epub 2014 Jul 3.

    PubMed 24990227
  • Gilstad-Hayden K, Carroll-Scott A, Rosenthal L, Peters SM, McCaslin C, Ickovics JR. Positive school climate is associated with lower body mass index percentile among urban preadolescents. J Sch Health. 2014 Aug;84(8):502-6. doi: 10.1111/josh.12177.

    PubMed 25040118
  • Earnshaw VA, Rosenthal L, Carroll-Scott A, Peters SM, McCaslin C, Ickovics JR. Teacher Involvement as a Protective Factor from the Association between Race-Based Bullying and Smoking Initiation. Soc Psychol Educ. 2014 Jun 1;17(2):197-209. doi: 10.1007/s11218-014-9250-1.

    PubMed 24955021
  • Carroll-Scott A, Gilstad-Hayden K, Rosenthal L, Peters SM, McCaslin C, Joyce R, Ickovics JR. Disentangling neighborhood contextual associations with child body mass index, diet, and physical activity: the role of built, socioeconomic, and social environments. Soc Sci Med. 2013 Oct;95:106-14. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2013.04.003. Epub 2013 Apr 10.

    PubMed 23642646
  • Ickovics JR, Duffany KO, Shebl FM, Peters SM, Read MA, Gilstad-Hayden KR, Schwartz MB. Implementing School-Based Policies to Prevent Obesity: Cluster Randomized Trial. Am J Prev Med. 2019 Jan;56(1):e1-e11. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2018.08.026.

    PubMed 30573151

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing DISTRICT WELLNESS COMMITTEE, NUTRITIONAL QUALITY OF FOODS AND BEVERAGES ON CAMPUS and HEALTH PROMOTION AND MARKETING in people with Chronic Diseases and Obesity, run by Yale University at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 17 Jan 2018. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Change in body mass index (BMI). (time frame: Baseline through Follow-up: Grades 5-6-7-8). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT02043626, which also lists 16 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 17 Jan 2018.

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