Healthy Buddies™ reduces body mass index z-score and waist circumference in Aboriginal children living in remote coastal communities.

Publisher: Wiley Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 0376370 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1746-1561 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00224391 NLM ISO Abbreviation: J Sch Health Subsets: MEDLINE

Publication: Nov. 2008- : Hoboken, NJ : Wiley
Original Publication: Columbus, Ohio : American Association of School Physicians

Peer Group*; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/*prevention & control ; Feeding and Eating Disorders/*prevention & control ; Health Promotion/*methods ; Indians, North American/*statistics & numerical data ; Obesity/*prevention & control ; Rural Population/*statistics & numerical data; Adolescent ; Body Mass Index ; British Columbia ; Child ; Feeding Behavior ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Program Evaluation ; School Health Services/organization & administration ; Self Concept ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Waist Circumference

Background: Aboriginal children are at increased risk for obesity and type 2 diabetes. Healthy Buddies™-First Nations (HB) is a curriculum-based, peer-led program promoting healthy eating, physical activity, and self-esteem.
Methods: Although originally designed as a pilot pre-/post-analysis of 3 remote Aboriginal schools that requested and received HB training, one school did not implement the program and was used as a control group. Outcomes included changes in body mass index z-score (zBMI), waist circumference (WC), blood pressure (BP), self-esteem, health behavior, and knowledge over 1 school year in kindergarten to grade 12 children.
Results: There was a significant decrease in zBMI (1.10 to 1.04, p = .028) and WC (77.1 to 75.0 cm, p < .0001) in the HB group (N = 118) compared with an increase in zBMI (1.14 to 1.23, p = .046) and a minimal WC change in the control group (N = 61). Prevalence of elevated BP did not change in the HB group, but increased from 16.7% to 31.7% in the control group (p = .026). General linear model analysis revealed a significant interaction between time, group, and zBMI (p = .001), weight status (p = .014), nutritious beverage knowledge (p = .018), and healthy living and self-esteem score (p = .005).
Conclusions: The HB program is a promising school-based strategy for addressing obesity and self-esteem in Aboriginal children.
(© 2013, American School Health Association.)

Keywords: Aboriginal; First Nations; children; diabetes; obesity; prevention; school

Date Created: 20130725 Date Completed: 20140317 Latest Revision: 20220316

20240628

10.1111/josh.12072

23879779