Wakaya Rising Up for Choctaw Youth Health Program to Improve Physical Activity, Healthy Eating, and Reduce Substance Use Among Choctaw Youth Ages 12 to 19

What This Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the Wakaya Rising Up for Choctaw Youth Health program, a nature-based, experiential intervention grounded in Choctaw values. This study aims to improve physical activity, reduce sedentary behavior, promote healthy eating habits, and delay or reduce alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use among Choctaw youth aged 12 to 19 years. The trial uses a two-group randomized waitlist-control design with staggered cohort recruitment over five years. Participants will be randomly assigned to either an immediate intervention group or a waitlist control group starting the program after three months. The intervention includes up to 20 group sessions focused on Choctaw history, traditions, and health beliefs, outdoor activities like ropes courses and gardening, use of Fitbits for activity tracking, motivational interviewing sessions, an overnight culture camp, a walk on the Choctaw Trail of Tears, and community leadership events. The program spans up to 12 months, with ongoing group meetings, digital storytelling, and community events to promote healthy lifestyles and leadership. Participants undergo baseline physical and behavioral assessments including body measurements, puberty onset identification, a 7-day accelerometer activity tracking, and a 12-minute run or walk test. They complete four computer-assisted behavioral surveys at baseline, immediately after the Trail of Tears walk, and at three and six months post-intervention. Researchers measure changes in physical activity, sedentary behavior, dietary habits, substance use, and body mass index. Post-intervention focus groups evaluate program impact. Total participation lasts up to nine months post-intervention with ongoing assessments.

Wakaya: Rising Up for Choctaw Youth Health