OPTIMIZING CARDIOVASCULAR AND BONE HEALTH ON CHILDREN: A NOVEL INTERVENTION

这个子项目是众多研究子项目之一

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. The overall goal is to find novel ways to increase physical activity and improve health in children. Being physically inactive is a major player in the development of a host of chronic diseases including osteoperosis, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. Many of the antecedents of these diseases that present in adulthood, are often rooted in childhood--yet many children are not active enough to achieve basic health benefits. Therefore, there is a need to develop innovative and effective ways to reduce physical inactivity during childhood. We propose to pilot a novel intervention, Dance Dance Revolution (DDR), which has potential benefits for cardiovascular fitness, body weight, and for bone health. The specific aims are to (1) assess the feasibility of DDR over 16 weeks in an after-school program setting; and (2) assess changes in body weight, body composition, cardiovascular fitness, and bone strength with DDR intervention.