A structured, interactive method for youth participation in a school district-university partnership to prevent obesity

BACKGROUND

The involvement of school-age children in participatory research is described in the context of a school district-university partnership to prevent obesity in children. The purpose of this study was to elicit, from children in kindergarten (K) through sixth grade, perceptions of foods and activities that would inform the design of developmentally appropriate interventions to prevent and reduce childhood obesity.

METHODS

Children (N = 218) were selected through a random sample of K through sixth grade classrooms in 3 schools. They participated in structured, interactive, small group exercises focused on perceptions of foods (taste and healthy/unhealthy) and activities (fun and active/sedentary). High school students in the same school district were trained to facilitate the children's groups in collaboration with university faculty and students.

RESULTS

Qualitative data analysis was used to discern patterns across grade levels. There were grade-level differences in perceptions of the taste and healthfulness of foods. Younger children (K-1) equated foods that tasted good with foods that were "good for you." Older children were more discriminating and gave reasons for their perceptions. For activities, fun was positively associated with the number of people involved and the amount of movement. There were fewer differences across grade levels in preferences for types of sedentary activities, compared with sports and other activities that "make you move."

CONCLUSIONS

The findings have implications for developmentally appropriate health promotion interventions to prevent obesity. These structured but highly interactive methods could be used by school personnel to assess the unique needs of a school population.

Addressing childhood obesity through increased physical activity

Obesity is affecting an increasing proportion of children globally. Despite an appreciation that physical activity is essential for the normal growth and development of children and prevents obesity and obesity-related health problems, too few children are physically active. A concurrent problem is that today's young people spend more time than previous generations did in sedentary pursuits, including watching television and engaging in screen-based games. Active behavior has been displaced by these inactive recreational choices, which has contributed to reductions in activity-related energy expenditure. Implementation of multifactorial solutions considered to offer the best chance of combating these trends is urgently required to redress the energy imbalance that characterizes obesity. The counterproductive 'shame and blame' mentality that apportions responsibility for the childhood obesity problem to sufferers, their parents, teachers or health-care providers needs to be changed. Instead, these groups should offer constant support and encouragement to promote appropriate physical activity in children. Failure to provide activity opportunities will increase the likelihood that the children of today will live less healthy (and possibly shorter) lives than their parents.

Healthier options for public schoolchildren program improves weight and blood pressure in 6- to 13-year-olds

Childhood obesity and related health consequences continue to be major clinical and public health issues in the United States. Schools provide an opportunity to implement obesity prevention strategies to large and diverse pediatric audiences. Healthier Options for Public Schoolchildren was a quasiexperimental elementary school-based obesity prevention intervention targeting ethnically diverse 6- to 13-year-olds (kindergarten through sixth grade). Over 2 school years (August 2004 to June 2006), five elementary schools (four intervention, one control, N=2,494, 48% Hispanic) in Osceola County, FL, participated in the study. Intervention components included integrated and replicable nutrition, physical activity, and lifestyle educational curricula matched to state curricula standards; modified school meals, including nutrient-dense items, created by registered dietitians; and parent and staff educational components. Demographic, anthropometric, and blood pressure data were collected at baseline and at three time points over 2 years. Repeated measures analysis showed significantly decreased diastolic blood pressure in girls in the intervention group compared to controls (P<0.05). Systolic blood pressure decreased significantly for girls in the intervention group compared to controls during Year 1 (fall 2004 to fall 2005) (P<0.05); while not statistically significant the second year, the trend continued through Year 2. Overall weight z scores and body mass index z scores decreased significantly for girls in the intervention group compared to controls (P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively). School-based prevention interventions, including nutrition and physical activity components, show promise in improving health, particularly among girls. If healthy weight and blood pressure can be maintained from an early age, cardiovascular disease in early adulthood may be prevented.