Recorded presentation

Donald B. Bishop, PhD¹, Gretchen L. Taylor, MPH, RD¹, Rita A. Warren Mays, MS, RD, LN¹, Mary Story, PhD RD², John H. Himes, PhD², Oran Beaulieu, BS³, and Vincent F. Tookenay, MD⁴. (1) Center for Health Promotion, Minnesota Dept. of Health, P.O. Box 64882, St. Paul, MN 55164-0882, 651/281-9839, don.bishop@health.state.mn.us, (2) Division of Epidemiology, University of Minnesota, 1300 South Second Street, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55454, (3) Red Lake Comprehensive Health Services, Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, PO Box 249, Red Lake, MN 56671, (4) Leech Lake Health Services, Leech Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, 6530 Highway 2 N.W., Cass Lake, MN 56633

American Indian Walking for Health (WfH) is a pilot study to assess the feasibility of a school-based environmental change for promoting increased physical activity among American Indian children to reduce their risk of obesity. The WfH intervention introduces a policy change to incorporate a daily one-mile walk of 20 to 30 minutes for 3rd and 4th grade students into their school day. The study tests the feasibility of this approach to reducing BMI and body fatness by increasing daily physical activity in children. Feasibility and initial results are being assessed in three elementary schools on two Indian reservations in northern Minnesota. This presentation will include baseline data, the intervention design, and process data from the first year of a two-year intervention. At baseline, data was collected in Spring, 2003 from 179 of 191 eligible second grade children. Sixty-four percent had BMI scores above the 85th percentile. Fifty-one percent of girls and 43% of boys had BMI scores above the 95th percentile. Data was also collected on physical activity (using pedometers and CSA monitors) and physical activity related behaviors and attitudes (using a survey). When students entered the 3rd grade (Fall, 2003), their classroom teachers began leading them on a daily walk during the school day. The receptivity of students and obstacles for teachers and school administrators to implementing a daily walking program will be described.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participants in the session will be able to

• Describe procedures for developing a school-based walking program for young students.
• Apply lessons learned from the pilot study to the design of a school walking program.
• Recognize indicators of risk for obesity in student populations.

Keywords: American Indians, School-Based Programs

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation