Table
I
Studies ofSchoo1-Based Obesity Intervention
Treatment
Authors
Subjects/Age/Grade/ Nutrition Education/
Exercise Conditions Behavioral Dietary Control
Seltzer
&
Mayer (1970)
N=350
189 treatment subjects
and
161
controls.
All subjects were obese
elementary and junior high
school students.
Age range was
8
to
14
years.
Grades
4
to 9.
Collipp (1975)
Jettt, Barry,
&
Pearlman (1977)
N=25
Treatment subjects were
in grades
4
to
6.
Subjects
served as own controls.
N=2l
11
treatment subjects and
10 controls.
Mean age was
15.3
years.
Epstein, Masek,
&
N=6
Marshall
(I
978)
Treatment subjects were
6
black lower socioeconomic
children ranging in age
from
5
to
6
years. Subjects
served as their own con-
trols in a multiple-baseline
design.
Nonspecific supportive Provided information Additional physical exercise
counseling from various regarding good daily food classes-increased from
2
to
school personnel was pro-
habits, required daily foods,
5
times per week. Only re-
vided throughout after pro-
energy metabolism, and quirement was that it was to
gram
so
as to motivate the alterations in some caloric
be “vigorous” exercise.
subjects to adhere to their requirements.
treatment.
None specified.
None.
Subjects received verbal
praise during a
10
minute
exercise period. Subjects
were awarded stars for
appropriate eating within
each
of3
food groups. The
stars could be exchanged
for inexpensive toys. After
5 toys were earned, a bonus
toy was given.
Six-week period
of
dietary
restriction.
Supervised exercise program.
None.
Lacrosse program held twice
per week after school for
5
months. Each session lasted
45
minutes.
Prior to breakfast and
lunch subjects were in-
structed and prompted as
to amounts of food which
should be consumed. Foods
were placed in one of
3
color-coded categories
based upon the number of
calories and nutritional
value. Subjects were en-
couraged to eat the most
nutritious yet lowest in
calorie foods.
Subjects were given
10
minutes of prelunch exercise
activities which included
calesthenics, relay races,
tricycle races, dancing, and
jogging.