The Healthy Kids Initiative: Results from the First 2000 Participants

PURPOSE: The comprehensive and free Healthy Kids Initiative (HKI) was developed with key features including social support, family support, and cognitive behavior education in order to promote program completion and improve health outcomes among youth. The first objective was to determine program completion rates and independent risk indicators for non-completion. The second objective was to determine the 12-week impact of the Healthy Kids Initiative on aerobic fitness, depressed mood and health-related quality of life. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Obese youth (ages 10–17) were referred to a community-based, multidisciplinary, free program by their doctor or pediatrician. Each participant was requested to attend the program with a “buddy” and complete three social support contracts with family and friends to support their behavioral modifications. The program duration was 12 weeks with physical activity, dietary, and cognitive behavior education sessions. Those who completed the program, and those who did not, were compared across socioeconomic variables, age, gender, depressed mood and aerobic fitness. RESULTS: Across five cohorts, 1789 of 1995 youth completed the program (89.7% completion rate). Five referred youth never started. Independent risk indicators associated with non-completion included older age (OR 3.07, 95% CI 2.26–4.17; p<0.001), mother with a non-professional occupation (OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.22–2.78; p=0.004), and living in a low-income neighborhood (OR 9.37, 95% CI 5.61–15.65; p<0.001). There were significant improvements from baseline for aerobic fitness (mCAFT score 35.84 to 55.72 mL × kg (−1) × min(−1); p<0.001), depressed mood (mean CES-D 12 score 21.47 to 17.40; p<0.001), and health-related quality of life (mean SF-12 score 23.4 to 33.8; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The HKI program had high completion rates and early success in improving outcomes. Knowing the independent risk indicators for non-completion will allow for program revision to help at-risk participants complete the program.