Abstract
Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) are rising dramatically in adolescents in parallel with excess weight.
The Banishing Obesity and Diabetes in Youth (BODY) Project, is a school-based intervention that medically screens overweight
and obese high school students, provides personalized feedback, and connects to appropriate healthcare. Body mass index (BMI)
was determined for 1,526 students in one New York City public high school with a school-based health center (SBHC). Overweight
and obese students (n = 640) were invited to complete a medical evaluation that included a survey, blood pressure and blood tests. 328/640 (51%)
eligible students returned signed parental consent and participated. All participants received a personalized report detailing
their results along with specific recommendations on how to improve their health. Parents of participants with results outside
healthy ranges (82%; 270/328) were called and mailed referral letters to connect with healthcare services. Project staff reached
by telephone 74% (199/270) of those families and 29% (58/199) stated that the report led them to make arrangements to see
a healthcare provider. Most students (83%; 273/328) were registered at the SBHC, and we shared their medical results with
them so they could follow-up with the students. The BODY Project is a feasible program for urban schools with a SBHC. This
may allow effective prevention of T2DM, and CVD from dyslipidemia and hypertension.
The Banishing Obesity and Diabetes in Youth (BODY) Project, is a school-based intervention that medically screens overweight
and obese high school students, provides personalized feedback, and connects to appropriate healthcare. Body mass index (BMI)
was determined for 1,526 students in one New York City public high school with a school-based health center (SBHC). Overweight
and obese students (n = 640) were invited to complete a medical evaluation that included a survey, blood pressure and blood tests. 328/640 (51%)
eligible students returned signed parental consent and participated. All participants received a personalized report detailing
their results along with specific recommendations on how to improve their health. Parents of participants with results outside
healthy ranges (82%; 270/328) were called and mailed referral letters to connect with healthcare services. Project staff reached
by telephone 74% (199/270) of those families and 29% (58/199) stated that the report led them to make arrangements to see
a healthcare provider. Most students (83%; 273/328) were registered at the SBHC, and we shared their medical results with
them so they could follow-up with the students. The BODY Project is a feasible program for urban schools with a SBHC. This
may allow effective prevention of T2DM, and CVD from dyslipidemia and hypertension.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-7
- DOI 10.1007/s10900-011-9453-8
- Authors
- Victoria Sweat, Department of Psychiatry, Brain, Obesity, and Diabetes Laboratory (BODyLab), New York University School of Medicine, 145 East 32nd Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Jean-Marie Bruzzese, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Stephanie Albert, Department of Psychiatry, Brain, Obesity, and Diabetes Laboratory (BODyLab), New York University School of Medicine, 145 East 32nd Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Domingo J. Pinero, Department of Nutrition, Food Studies and Public Health, NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, New York, NY, USA
- Arthur Fierman, Department of Pediatrics, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Antonio Convit, Department of Psychiatry and Medicine, Brain, Obesity, and Diabetes Laboratory (BODyLab), New York University School of Medicine, 145 East 32nd Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Journal Journal of Community Health
- Online ISSN 1573-3610
- Print ISSN 0094-5145