Wakaya: Rising Up for Choctaw Youth Health

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · Apr 17, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The clinical trial titled "Wakaya: Rising Up for Choctaw Youth Health" is studying a program designed to help young people in the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma improve their health. This program focuses on increasing physical activity, reducing the time spent sitting, and promoting healthier eating habits. It also aims to help delay or reduce the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. The Wakaya program is unique because it uses outdoor experiences and is based on Choctaw cultural values, encouraging participants to become more motivated and develop leadership skills to make better health choices.

To be eligible for the trial, participants should be members of the Choctaw Nation, have lived in the tribal region for at least a year, and meet certain health-related criteria, like having unhealthy eating habits or not getting enough exercise. The trial is currently recruiting participants aged between 14 and 18. Those who join can expect to engage in fun outdoor activities while learning about nutrition and making healthier lifestyle choices. It's important to note that individuals with certain health issues, such as severe allergies or drug use problems, may not be eligible to participate.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Be enrolled in Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma (CNO)
• • Live within CNO tribal region for 12 months
• YES to one of the following:
• • Consumed sweetened beverages or processed/fast food 2x or more per week; OR
• • Engaged in excessive sitting or lying around (\>540 min/day) or engage in small screen recreation (\>2 hours/day); OR
• • Physical activity - spend \<60 minutes/day outdoors or \<2.5 hrs per week in moderate or vigorous physical activity OR spend \<60 minutes a day in moderate or vigorous intensity aerobic activity; OR
• • Engage in any T.V., small screen/video game recreation (\> 2 hours/day)
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • opioid/methamphetamine drug use (2 times or more in past month)
• • allergic reactions to food (e.g. peanuts), plant (poison oak or ivy) or insects (e.g. bees, fire ants) that caused difficulty in breathing or necessitated hospitalization or caused an anaphylactic reaction
• • disability that prevents student from walking or from engaging in exercise
• • aggressive, violent, combative or inappropriate behaviors
• • inability to follow directions
• • psychotic symptoms