Trial results for a study investigating obesity and physical activity were posted on ClinicalTrials.gov on 2025-12-23, involving 188 participants. The study examined the impact of a before-school physical activity program, reporting mean Body Mass Index (BMI) changes of 0.14 kg/m^2 for Spring 2018 participants and 0.01 kg/m^2 for Fall 2018 participants.
Background
Obesity, particularly in children and adolescents, is a significant public health concern with long-term implications for health and well-being. Promoting physical activity is a key strategy for prevention and management. School-based programs, especially those integrated into the daily routine, offer a structured environment to encourage physical activity. The BOKS (Build Our Kids' Success) program is an example of a before-school initiative designed to increase physical activity among students, aiming to positively influence health outcomes such as BMI, cognitive function, and quality of life.
Trial design
This completed study, designated as Phase NA, enrolled 188 participants to investigate conditions including Overweight and Obesity, Physical Activity, Quality of Life, Fitness, and Executive Function. The trial evaluated the implementation of the BOKS program in three schools (K-8) in Revere, MA. It was designed as a cohort study to assess the impact of program participation on child BMI, quality of life, and executive function. The program involved before-school physical activity sessions.
Key results
The trial reported key measurements related to changes in Body Mass Index (BMI) for participants over two distinct periods:
- For participants in the Spring 2018 program, the mean change in Body Mass Index was 0.14 kg/m^2, with a Standard Deviation of 0.63.
- For participants in the Fall 2018 program, the mean change in Body Mass Index was 0.01 kg/m^2, with a Standard Deviation of 0.70.
What this means
The results indicate that participation in the before-school physical activity program was associated with minimal mean changes in Body Mass Index among the student cohorts. While the mean BMI change was slightly positive in Spring 2018 and nearly neutral in Fall 2018, the standard deviations suggest variability in individual responses. These findings contribute to the understanding of the direct impact of such programs on BMI, suggesting that while physical activity is beneficial, its isolated effect on BMI change within this specific program context may be modest. Broader benefits related to fitness, quality of life, and executive function were also part of the study's scope, though specific measurements for these were not detailed in the posted results.
Source
The information regarding these trial results was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a public database of clinical studies. The results for the study NCT03805295, titled "Implementation and Evaluation of a Before School Physical Activity Program in Revere, MA", were posted on 2025-12-23 on clinicaltrials.gov.