The Booster Break program: description and feasibility test of a worksite physical activity daily practice.

OBJECTIVE: Work breaks are underutilized opportunities to promote health. The Booster Break program is a co-worker led physical activity group session devoted exclusively to standard 15-minute work breaks. The purpose of this study was to report the fidelity, attendance, feasibility, and sustainability of the Booster Break program and to explore its potential impact. PARTICIPANTS: The study site was a small business that provides legal and court reporting services to lawyers. The company's services include legal videography, litigation, records retrieval, and videoconferencing to civil attorneys. Established in 1973, the organization has 14 employees (8 women and 6 men), from 32 to 66 years of age. METHODS: For six months, this small business implemented the Booster Break program. Booster Break facilitators conducted the group sessions according to protocol, which included describing, cueing, and executing the physical activity sequence. RESULTS: During the six month period, 117 sessions were conducted. The average monthly attendance ranged from 76% to 86%. Participants significantly improved HDL cholesterol (p=0.04) and lost an average of 14 pounds. CONCLUSIONS: The Booster Break program is a feasible physical activity program for small business settings. The implications of the Booster Break program for future research in worksite settings are discussed.

Park-based obesity intervention program for inner-city minority children.

OBJECTIVE: To assess an intervention strategy--a 6-week obesity intervention program, Project KidFIT, at 3 Houston, Texas park centers--to address the obesity epidemic in minority children. STUDY DESIGN: Project KidFIT is a physical fitness and nutrition education program aimed at promoting the benefits of physical activity and improving nutrition knowledge in overweight (body mass index [BMI] > or = 95th percentile) minority children. RESULTS: A total of 120 minority children (77 boys and 43 girls; mean age, 10.1 years) were enrolled in the program. Approximately 71% of these children were at risk of overweight (BMI > or = 85th percentile), and 54% were overweight. Decreases in body weight (0.3 +/- 0.2 kg [mean +/- standard error]) and BMI (0.1 +/- 0.1 kg/m2) were detected in the overweight children, whereas increases in body weight (0.4 +/- 0.1 kg) and BMI (0.2 +/- 0.1 kg/m2) were observed in the children with normal body weight (BMI < 85th percentile but > 5th percentile). Significant improvements (P < .05) in flexibility, muscular endurance, and muscular strength were detected in all children, regardless of weight status. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that the city park-based KidFIT program might be effective at promoting stabilization for body weight and BMI and improving physical activity performance and nutrition knowledge in overweight minority children.