Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #115512

Elizabeth Walker, MS¹, Zachariah Baker¹, Vanessa Cavallaro, MS, RD, LDN², and Melissa Giamanco, RD, LDN³. (1) Department of Society, Human Development and Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard Prevention Research Center, 677 Huntington Avenue, 7th Fl., Boston, MA 02115, 617-432-6596, ewalker@hsph.harvard.edu, (2) Corporate Affairs Community Relations, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Landmark Center, 401 Park Drive, Boston, MA 02215, (3) New England Dairy &Food Council, 1034 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215

BACKGROUND: With greater public awareness of rising obesity rates among youth in the United States, many schools are taking action to change the physical activity and nutrition (PAN) environment to promote healthier lifestyles in their communities. Utilizing Students Taking Charge (STC), a toolkit containing a version of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention School Health Index (SHI) adapted specifically for students, student leaders can participate in the process of evaluating and addressing PAN program and policy gaps in their high school. METHODS: Six Massachusetts high school student groups applied for small grants to pilot the STC toolkit. Using the toolkit, student groups surveyed their student body to assess their opinions of the PAN environment, used the adapted SHI to assess PAN policies and practices in their school, created policies and programs to address PAN gaps, and disseminated results to their school and community leaders. RESULTS: Student groups focused on: collaborating with food service directors and the student body to choose healthful vending items and purchase salad bars for cafeterias, creating greater opportunities for physical activity through extracurricular activities, and creating programs to disseminate health education materials and engage peer support groups to address topics related to PAN and eating disorders. Students also incorporated systematic student body input into future school health and PAN programs and polices in the six different schools. CONCLUSIONS: Using the STC toolkit empowered students to collaborate with administration and staff to generate significant positive changes in their schools.

Learning Objectives:

• Develop a plan to use the Students Taking Charge toolkit in their community or state.
• Collaborate with high schools and their student groups to evaluate and implement physical activity and nutrition policies and programs in their school.
• Create opportunities for Students Taking Charge student groups to disseminate their results to their community and other student leaders in their state.

Keywords: Youth, Advocacy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.