Purpose The purpose of this study was to test the feasibility and preliminary effects of a culturally grounded, community-based diabetes prevention program among obese Latino adolescents. Methods Fifteen obese Latino adolescents (body mass index [BMI] percentile = 96.3 ± 1.1, age = 15.0 ± 0.9 years) completed a 12-week intervention that included weekly lifestyle education classes delivered by bilingual/bicultural promotoras and three, 60-minute physical activity sessions per week. Participants were assessed for anthropometrics (height, weight, BMI, and waist circumference), cardiorespiratory fitness, physical activity/inactivity, nutrition behaviors, and insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance by a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test. Results The intervention resulted in significant decreases in BMI z score, BMI percentile, and waist circumference; increases in cardiorespiratory fitness; and decreases in physical inactivity and dietary fat consumption. In addition to these changes, the intervention led to significant improvements in insulin sensitivity and reductions in 2-hour glucose levels. Conclusions These results support the feasibility and efficacy of a community-based diabetes prevention program for high-risk Latino youth. Translational approaches that are both culturally grounded and biologically meaningful represent a novel and innovative strategy for closing the obesity-related health disparities gap.

RESULTS:Average attendance at the training sessions for each group was not less than 90%. Means and standard deviations for their age, height, and weight were 11.22 years + . 41, 149.03 cm + 4.45, and 48.03 kg + 5.14, respectively. Participants were similar in age, height, weight and baseline balance and muscle strength variables. There was a significant difference (p<0.05) between pre-and post-test results on balance using a stability platform, however muscle strength was insignificant. CONCLUSION:This study has shown that children can safely and effectively gain balance by performing neuromuscular training with different balance training devices while participating during a PE class. (No relationships reported)Although progressive strength training has been found to increase muscle strength and improve function in children with cerebral palsy (CP), the therapeutic effects of whole body vibration (WBV) on youth with CP remain undefined. PURPOSE:To compare the effects of different training protocols with and without WBV on performance and metabolic parameters in youth with CP.METHODS: 58 subjects with spastic CP (GMFCS I and II, ages 7 to 16 yrs, 37 males, 21 females) were randomly assigned to one of the following groups: 1) body weight training, (BWT, n=20), 2) WBV training (n=20), or 3) control (CON, n=18). Subjects in BWT and WBV performed the same strength and flexibility exercises 3d/wk for 6 wks, but WBV performed all exercises on a vibration platform. Training progressed from 4 to 10 sets of 30 sec for each exercise with 1 min rest period between sets. During each 60 min training session, BWT and WBV performed agility and balance activities on a stable surface. Each subject's one repetitionmaximum (RM) leg press strength, flexibility (sit & reach), agility (time up and go). power, balance, metabolic cost of walking (6-min), anaerobic threshold, peak VO2, and peak aerobic power were assessed before (PRE), directly after (POST), and 4 weeks after the training program (DET). RESULTS:There were no significant differences between groups at PRE. BWT and WBV resulted in significantly greater gains (p<0.05) than CON on all performance variables while metabolic parameters remained unchanged. POST gains in 1 RM strength and flexibility were significantly greater following WBV than BWT (50±34 vs 29±10 kg, p<0.05 and 4±1 vs 1±1 cm, p<0.01, respectively). WBV better maintained absolute levels in 1 RM strength (72±38 vs 55±30kg, p<0.01), agility (5.0±1.8 vs 5.5±2.6 sec, p<0.05) and balance (49±25 vs 42±27%, p<0.05) than BWT following DET. No injuries occurred during the study period and exercise adherence was 94% in BWT and WBV. CONCLUSIONS:Progressive WBV training seems to offer greater benefit than BWT on performance measures in youth with spastic CP, and the effects of WBV on strength, agility and balance appear to linger longer than BWT following DET. Neuromuscular adaptations in youth with CP appear to respond faster to training with and without WBV as compared to mechanical or metabolic adaptations.