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

Abstract #116884

Lynn Ware, RN, BSN and Flavius R. W. Lilly, MPH. Department of Community Health Improvement, Hanover Hospital, 300 Highland Avenue, Hanover, PA 17331, (717) 633-3543, warel@hanoverhospital.org

OBJECTIVE: Assess the effectiveness of a community program coordinated with school districts to promote healthy lifestyles and healthy weight among obese high school adolescents in a rural Pennsylvania community (population 45,000). BACKGROUND: A local community hospital, school district, and YMCA collaborated to develop the program Nutricise-4-Life (N4L) to address the overweight epidemic among youth in the community. The pilot program under investigation occurs during normal school hours and is a supplement to the state curricular physical education requirement. The purpose of N4L is to equip obese and at-risk youth with psychosocial, nutritional and exercise life skills through health education, fitness training, and behavior modification. METHODS: Youth (N=21) were self-identified and expressed interest in N4L through an application process facilitated by their school. Pre- and post-testing measured blood chemistry, Pierre Harris Assessment of quality of life, Lifestyle Assessment Inventory, and physical fitness. RESULTS: Mean reduction of BMI (0.35kg/m2) and body fat composition (0.52%) was modest. Cardiovascular endurance improved as assessed by average five (5) km run time reduction of 2.82 minutes. Muscle endurance improvements were evidenced by increase in abdominal sit-ups (3.89 repetitions/minute) and pushups (9.34 repetitions/minute). Muscle flexibility also showed improvement in shoulder stretch (1.75 inches) and sit and reach (0.27 inches). Knowledge, attitudes and beliefs regarding healthy lifestyles also shifted positively. CONCLUSION: Although N4L program has begun in one local area it represents an intervention that may be adaptable to other communities. Preliminary results indicate that short-term benefits exist in program participation. Longer-term benefits are topic of future study.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the core components of adolescent behavior modification program to reduce overweight and obesity.
• Create local program of similar scope in home community.
• Articulate value of collaborations among health providers, schools and community organizations to reduce risky health behaviors.

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.