175124 An outcome and process evaluation of an overweight prevention program entitled: Food Fit

Wednesday, October 29, 2008: 10:45 AM

Paul Wesley Branscum, MS, RD, LD , Health Promotion and Education, The University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
Gail L. Kaye, PhD, LPCC, RD, LD , Department of Human Nutrition, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
     
The prevalence of childhood overweight has more than tripled in the past 30 years. Among risk factors commonly associated with this problem, a poor diet has been noted as a major contributor. However, interventions aimed at improving diet quality among children have reported mostly mixed and modest results. This is likely due to limitations that have been noted in program's methodology, design, implementation, and outcome assessments. ‘Food Fit' (FF) is theoretically based in social cognitive theory, promotes behaviors that are associated with the prevention and treatment of overweight and overcomes limitations noted from past studies. The FF program was implemented at five after school programs (n = 58). Pre and post tests were administered for each lesson to evaluate changes in behavioral capabilities (BC), self efficacy (SE), and outcome expectancies (OE) for each lesson's key objectives. A standardized instrument (Child Modified Food Behavior Checklist) was administered before and after the program to evaluate dietary behaviors. A process evaluation was also used to assure program integrity. Significant increases were found for: (BC) - able to identify food labels (p<.0006), correct serving size (p<.0005), and servings per container (p<.0001): (SE) - children reported confidence for identifying food labels (p < .0384), and eating fruit as a snack (p <.02): (OE ) – children reported a desire to read food labels to identify lower calorie options (p < .0186), choose drinks without added sugar (p < .0117), and consume raw vegetables for snacks (p < .0093). Dietary changes include: increased consumption of fruits and vegetables as snacks (p = .0014), citrus fruits and juice (p=.0209), raw vegetables (p=.0006), and increased use of the food label to determine food selection (p=.0017). The FF program appears to be successful at favorably impacting children's BC, SE and OE – for food selection behaviors thought to contribute to the prevention and treatment of overweight and obesity. FF may be a viable nutrition program for use in multi-component interventions, aimed at impacting behaviors associated with the prevention and treatment of overweight and obesity.

Learning Objectives:
Identify food selection behaviors associated with the development of childhood overweight Identify and describe practices to surmount limitations noted for previous childhood health promotion programs targeting nutrition Describe a new theory based program (Food Fit) designed to promote food selection behaviors associated with the prevention and treatment of childhood overweight Apply constructs from the Social Cognitive Theory of Learning to promote behaviors that have been associated with the prevention of childhood overweight

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have worked with closely with faculty from The Ohio State University, Department of Human Nutrition on this subject matter, and closely studied nutrition, which is evident in my credential as a Registered Dietitian.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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