Linking family exercise with daily stress management for adolescents

Linking Exericise for Advancing Daily Stress (LEADS) Management and Resilience in African American Families

Not applicable Interventional University of South Carolina · NCT07176234

This program will test whether a family-based exercise and stress-coping program helps African American teens (ages 11–16) with higher BMI become more active and handle daily stress better.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment330 (estimated)
Ages11 Years to 16 Years
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of South Carolina Academic / other
Locations2 sites (Columbia, South Carolina and 1 other locations)
Trial IDNCT07176234 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This interventional program enrolls African American adolescents aged 11–16 with BMI at or above the 70th percentile together with a participating parent or caregiver. Families receive a combined intervention of structured physical activity, health education, and resilience-based stress management skills, delivered with some internet-supported components. Participants with major cardiovascular or orthopedic limitations or uncontrolled blood pressure are excluded for safety, and those already in structured activity or stress programs are not eligible. The intervention is offered at University of South Carolina and a community partner site in Sumter, SC, and outcomes focus on activity, stress coping, and weight-related measures.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are self-identified African American or Black adolescents aged 11–16 with BMI ≥70th percentile who have at least one caregiver willing to participate and home internet access.

Not a fit: Those with medical conditions that limit safe physical activity, uncontrolled high blood pressure, or who are already enrolled in structured exercise, weight loss, or stress-management programs are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the program could help participating teens increase physical activity, improve coping with daily stress, and reduce risk factors linked to obesity and chronic disease.

How similar studies have performed: Resilience-based family interventions have shown benefits for mental health and behavior, but few prior programs have consistently improved physical activity or weight outcomes specifically in African American adolescents.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* adolescent BMI greater than or equal 70th percentile;
* self-identified African American or Black adolescents 11-16 years;
* at least one parent/caregiver participating;
* not currently in a structured physical activity, weight loss program or stress management program
* access to the internet in his/her home.

Exclusion Criteria:

* having limitations that would prevent physical activity, and for caregivers,
* criteria will include having a cardiovascular or orthopedic condition that would limit physical activity
* uncontrolled blood pressure.

Where this trial is running

Columbia, South Carolina and 1 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Obesity, Childhoodphysical activity, stress management, adolescent, intervention, African American
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.