Childhood ObesityWeJoy+WeHopNCT06766890
Evaluation of Innovative School-based Interventions on Health Outcomes Among Primary School Students During Post COVID-19 Pandemic
A study testing WeJoy+WeHop in people with Childhood Obesity and Sleep Problems, run by Chinese University of Hong Kong at 1 site in Hong Kong.
Trial summary
Objectives: (1) to evaluate the feasibility of innovative school-based interventions on health outcomes (psychological well-being, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, physical activity, sleep duration, and sleep quality) among primary students in the post-COVID-19 pandemic period; (2) to explore children's… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 8 to 16 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Childhood Obesity, Sleep Problems, Physical Activity
- What is being tested?
- WeJoy+WeHop
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 40 participants
- Where
- 1 siteHong Kong
- Study dates
- 23 Feb 2024to 31 Dec 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 8 to 16 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child
Who may be able to join
- Primary students ranged from primary 3 to 5 school children.
- Obtained consent forms from their legal guardians.
Who cannot join
- Primary students in primary 1 due to the adaptation of the new environment.
- Primary 6 due to the preparation of the examinations for secondary schools.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Objectives: (1) to evaluate the feasibility of innovative school-based interventions on health outcomes (psychological well-being, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, physical activity, sleep duration, and sleep quality) among primary students in the post-COVID-19 pandemic period; (2) to explore children's experience of intervention; (3) to evaluate the effects of innovative school-based (WeJoy + WeHop) on depressive symptoms, physical activities, and sleep quality among primary 3 to 5 school children.
Method: Two phases of the study will be conducted, including feasibility pilot study and main study. In phase 1, a sample of 40 school children will be recruited from two community centers for feasibility test and semi-structured individual face-to-face interview. In phase 2, a total of 408 school children will be recruited from primary schools in Hong Kong. This study will adopt a 2 two-group pre and post-design. Participants are randomly assigned equally into 1 intervention group (WeJoy+WeHop) and 1 control group (Routine Extra curriculum Activity). Participants will be assessed at baseline and post-intervention. The outcomes are depressive symptoms, physical activities, and sleep quality, using the Chinese version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC), the Chinese Version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-C), and the Chinese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI-C).
Data analysis: Descriptive and inferential statistics will be performed to examine the research objectives.
Read the detailed description
The COVID-19 pandemic has altered children's lifestyles, calling for particular attention. Psychological problems, obesity, and sleep disturbance in children have become more prevalent throughout the COVID-19 outbreak. It is vital to develop preventative interventions to enhance psychological well-being, prevent obesity, and improve sleep health. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is effective in preventing psychological problems, obesity, and sleep problems in children. The provision of CBT faces obstacles such as a shortage of therapists, stigma, protracted wait times, and high costs. Evidence revealed that children prefer interventions with interactive, relatable, and game-like content to improve their engagement.
School-based CBT (WeJoy) allows children to recognize, change, and partake in pleasant activities based on the CBT model. The WeJoy comprises six weekly sessions on psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, behavioural activation, emotional regulation, and self-monitoring. Exergaming on the interactive floor (WeHop) using a portable interactive projector games system. The WeHop can gain a sense of autonomy, competence, and relatedness to help them regulate their emotions and maintain positive behaviours according to the Self-Determination Theory. Children participate in the interactive floor games by stepping on various targets and moving in response to the game's rules. Combining task division, cooperation, and taking turns constitutes the collaboration mechanism.
- Conditions
- Childhood Obesity, Sleep Problems, Physical Activity
- Being tested
- WeJoy+WeHop
- Keywords
- Innovative school-based intervention, School children, Cognitive behavioral therapy, Exergaming
- Medical subject headings
- Pediatric Obesity, Parasomnias, Motor Activity
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
WeJoy+WeHopBehavioural
School-based CBT (WeJoy) comprises six weekly sessions on psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, behavioural activation, emotional regulation, and self-monitoring. Exergaming on the interactive floor (WeHop) can gain a sense of autonomy, competence, and relatedness to help them regulate their emotions and maintain positive behaviours according to the Self-Determination Theory. Children participate in the interactive floor games by stepping on various targets and moving in response to the game's rules. Combining task division, cooperation, and taking turns constitutes the collaboration mechanism.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| School-based Cognitive Behavior Therapy (WeJoy and exergaming on the interactive floor (WeHop) | Experimental | School-based CBT (WeJoy) allows children to recognize, change, and partake in pleasant activities based on the CBT model. The WeJoy comprises six weekly sessions on psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, behavioural activation, emotional regulation, and self-monitoring. Exergaming on the interactive floor (WeHop) using a portable interactive projector games system. Each session provides 2 to 3 games per week for six weeks. Receives: Behavioral: WeJoy+WeHop |
| Usual class | No intervention | Usual extra curriculum activities that are arranged by corresponding primary schools |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Psychological outcome: Depressive symptoms
Depressive symptoms will be assessed by the Chinese version of 20-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for Children, CES-DC
Measured: baseline, pre-intervention and immediately after the intervention
Secondary outcomes (2)
Physical activity
Level of physical activities will be measured by the Chinese Version of 7-item International Physical Activity Questionnaire, IPAQ-C
Measured: baseline, pre-intervention and immediately after the intervention
Sleep outcomes include subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, sleep medication, and daytime dysfunction
Subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, sleep medication, and daytime dysfunction will be assessed by the Chinese version of 19-item Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Chinese PSQI
Measured: baseline, pre-intervention and immediately after the intervention
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted9 Jan 2025
- Study start23 Feb 2024
- Primary completion19 Jun 2025
- Study completion31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Childhood ObesityStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Chinese University of Hong KongThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- 1:1
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Lau Ying, Chinese University of Hong Kong
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06766890
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- CV-2024-YL
- Acronym
- WeJoy+WeHop
- Status last verified
- Dec 2025
- First submitted
- 31 Dec 2024
- Last updated
- 5 Jan 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided: The data does not collect yet and the research team does not decide the plan to share IPD.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 5 Jan 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Evaluation of Innovative School-based Interventions on Health Outcomes Among Primary School Students During Post COVID-19 Pandemic
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06766890
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- WeJoy+WeHop / CV-2024-YL
- Conditions
- Childhood Obesity, Sleep Problems, Physical Activity
- Keywords
- Innovative school-based intervention, School children, Cognitive behavioral therapy, Exergaming
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Chinese University of Hong KongUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 23 Feb 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 19 Jun 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 9 Jan 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Objectives: (1) to evaluate the feasibility of innovative school-based interventions on health outcomes (psychological well-being, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, physical activity, sleep duration, and sleep quality) among primary students in the post-COVID-19 pandemic period; (2) to explore children's experience of intervention; (3) to evaluate the effects of innovative school-based (WeJoy + WeHop) on depressive symptoms, physical activities, and sleep quality among primary 3 to 5 school children.
Method: Two phases of the study will be conducted, including feasibility pilot study and main study. In phase 1, a sample of 40 school children will be recruited from two community centers for feasibility test and semi-structured individual face-to-face interview. In phase 2, a total of 408 school children will be recruited from primary schools in Hong Kong. This study will adopt a 2 two-group pre and post-design. Participants are randomly assigned equally into 1 intervention group (WeJoy+WeHop) and 1 control group (Routine Extra curriculum Activity). Participants will be assessed at baseline and post-intervention. The outcomes are depressive symptoms, physical activities, and sleep quality, using the Chinese version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC), the Chinese Version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-C), and the Chinese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI-C).
Data analysis: Descriptive and inferential statistics will be performed to examine the research objectives.
Detailed description
The COVID-19 pandemic has altered children's lifestyles, calling for particular attention. Psychological problems, obesity, and sleep disturbance in children have become more prevalent throughout the COVID-19 outbreak. It is vital to develop preventative interventions to enhance psychological well-being, prevent obesity, and improve sleep health. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is effective in preventing psychological problems, obesity, and sleep problems in children. The provision of CBT faces obstacles such as a shortage of therapists, stigma, protracted wait times, and high costs. Evidence revealed that children prefer interventions with interactive, relatable, and game-like content to improve their engagement.
School-based CBT (WeJoy) allows children to recognize, change, and partake in pleasant activities based on the CBT model. The WeJoy comprises six weekly sessions on psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, behavioural activation, emotional regulation, and self-monitoring. Exergaming on the interactive floor (WeHop) using a portable interactive projector games system. The WeHop can gain a sense of autonomy, competence, and relatedness to help them regulate their emotions and maintain positive behaviours according to the Self-Determination Theory. Children participate in the interactive floor games by stepping on various targets and moving in response to the game's rules. Combining task division, cooperation, and taking turns constitutes the collaboration mechanism.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- 1:1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| School-based Cognitive Behavior Therapy (WeJoy and exergaming on the interactive floor (WeHop) | Experimental | Behavioral: WeJoy+WeHopSchool-based CBT (WeJoy) allows children to recognize, change, and partake in pleasant activities based on the CBT model. The WeJoy comprises six weekly sessions on psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, behavioural activation, emotional regulation, and self-monitoring. Exergaming on the interactive floor (WeHop) using a portable interactive projector games system. Each session provides 2 to 3 games per week for six weeks. |
| Usual class | No intervention | –Usual extra curriculum activities that are arranged by corresponding primary schools |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 8 to 16 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Primary students ranged from primary 3 to 5 school children.
- Obtained consent forms from their legal guardians.
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Primary students in primary 1 due to the adaptation of the new environment.
- Primary 6 due to the preparation of the examinations for secondary schools.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| WeJoy+WeHopSchool-based CBT (WeJoy) comprises six weekly sessions on psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, behavioural activation, emotional regulation, and self-monitoring. Exergaming on the interactive floor (WeHop) can gain a sense of autonomy, competence, and relatedness to help them regulate their emotions and maintain positive behaviours according to the Self-Determination Theory. Children participate in the interactive floor games by stepping on various targets and moving in response to the game's rules. Combining task division, cooperation, and taking turns constitutes the collaboration mechanism. | Behavioural | School-based Cognitive Behavior Therapy (WeJoy and exergaming on the interactive floor (WeHop) |
Primary outcome
Psychological outcome: Depressive symptoms
Time frame: baseline, pre-intervention and immediately after the intervention
Depressive symptoms will be assessed by the Chinese version of 20-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for Children, CES-DC
2 secondary outcomes
Physical activity
Time frame: baseline, pre-intervention and immediately after the intervention
Sleep outcomes include subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, sleep medication, and daytime dysfunction
Time frame: baseline, pre-intervention and immediately after the intervention
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 5 Jan 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided. The data does not collect yet and the research team does not decide the plan to share IPD.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing WeJoy+WeHop in people with Childhood Obesity and Sleep Problems, run by Chinese University of Hong Kong at 1 site in Hong Kong.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 5 Jan 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Hong Kong. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Psychological outcome: Depressive symptoms (time frame: baseline, pre-intervention and immediately after the intervention). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 5 Jan 2026.