Changes in Health-Related Outcomes in Youth With Obesity in Response to a Home-Based Parent-Led Physical Activity Program

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to elucidate whether implementation of a parent-led physical activity (PA) curriculum improved health parameters in youth with obesity. Methods This prospective study included 45 youth with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) and 66 youth classified as obese without PWS. Participants were quasi-randomly assigned to an intervention (I) group which completed PA sessions (25–45+ minutes long) 4 days/week for 24 weeks or to a control (C) group. Generalized estimating equations analyzed differences in body composition, PA, and health-related quality of life (HRQL) by youth group, time, and treatment group. A secondary analysis in the I-group compared outcomes based on whether youth showed increases (n = 12) or decreases (n = 19) of ≥2 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA). Results Body mass index increased from baseline to 24 weeks in youth with obesity ( p  = .032) but not in youth with PWS. There were no changes in MVPA, total PA, or body fat indicators over time. The I-group demonstrated an increase of 7.2% and 7.6% in social and school HRQL, respectively, and a 3.3% improvement in total HRQL. Youth in the I-group who increased MVPA demonstrated decreased body mass ( p  = .010), body mass index z-score ( p  = .018), and body fat mass ( p  = .011); these changes were not observed in those who decreased MVPA over time. Conclusions Participation in a parent-led PA intervention at home can positively influence HRQL in youth with obesity and/or PWS. Increases in MVPA ≥2 minutes above baseline led to decreases in body mass and fat, while maintaining lean mass.