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What we found from camp 2010

It was found that the summer camp we did in 2010 significantly reduced % body fat, waist and hip size and improved flexibility, grip strength, and cardiovascular endurance. This summer intervention also significantly improved blood lipid profiles : Reduction in total cholesterol, Triglycerides, LDL, and an increase in HDL. We also found increased self confidence after camp.8 week summer lifestyle intervention improved body composition, level of physical fitness, and blood lipid profiles in Hispanic children. Changes in lipid profiles indicate a reduction in CHD risk in children. Taken together, it is suggested that summer intervention in physical activity and food intake is a very effective tool to prevent or reduce obesity in Hispanic children.  (It will be presented in American College of Sport Medicine Annual Meeting (Denver, CO, June 4th)

About Camp Research

  • It is not mandatory to participate in this research.

  • $40 gift card from best buy or HEB will be given to campers for participation in second (after summer camp) and third measurements (1 year follow-up).

  • Each test will take no more than an hour including Blood sampling, measurements of body fat, muscle strength, and cardiovascular function (approximately 20 minutes). Date will be announced at registration.

  • After camp, we will monitor campers' diet pattern and level of physical activity by phone once a month (with your request).

Blood Sampling

  1. We will draw blood three times.

  2. Each time, 5 ml of blood from the arm at a week before, a week after, and one year following summer camp.

• Immediately after finding any abnormality in blood analysis, it will be recommended to parents to see medical doctors by phone or mail.
• All results from 8 week intervention and 1 year follow-up telephone monitoring will be reported individually by mail after data analysis complete.

  3. You should not eat or drink anything containing calories after midnight before blood sampling (water is OK).

Benefits for you

  We will inform you of

1. What you have to do for healthy life from the data we will collect.
2. How much your fitness level was improved through summer camp and phone monitoring.
3. How far you get away from chronic diseases

Benefits for Community

  We can help our society by publishing results of this study and sharing information with them.

Why we do this research

  • The purpose of the research is to investigate the effects of lifestyle interventions on body fat, markers of chronicle diseases, inflammatory cytokines, and academic achievement.

  • Childhood obesity has become one of the most prominent public health concerns in the United States. Numerous studies have documented the dramatic rise in obesity and overweight in both adults and children.

  • Many schools in the United States recently have reduced physical education requirements, in an effort to increase students’ academic performance. However, it is indicated in recent studies that physical activity might be beneficial at all stages of life, early intervention might be important for the improvement and/or maintenance of cognitive health and function throughout the adult lifespan. 

  • Obesity is believed to cause low self-esteem and depression, resulting from overweight concerns. This psychological consequence may affect other aspects of children’s lives, such as academic performance. Therefore, we concluded from previous studies that physical inactivity and lower self-esteem from overweight may have negative influence on academic performance.

  • It is also reported that excess fat produces more pro-inflammatory cytokines, which causes chronicle diseases such as type II diabetes, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular diseases consequently it is also known that pro-inflammatory cytokines and markers of chronic diseases decrease with reduced body fat in the obese.