151201 School-based dietary, nutrition education, and physical activity interventions improve body mass index percentiles: Preliminary results the HOPS Study

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Danielle Hollar, PhD, MHAP , Agatston Research Foundation, Hollywood, FL
T. Lucas Hollar, PhD , Master of Public Health Program, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Arthur S. Agatston, MD , Agatston Research Institute, Miami Beach, FL
Introduction: The Healthier Options for Public Schoolchildren (HOPS) Study aims to understand the efficacy of dietary, nutrition education, and physical activity interventions in the elementary school setting. Hypothesis: We assessed the hypothesis that HOPS Study interventions reduce obesity rates more so than traditional school-based dietary and physical activities. Methods: The HOPS Study was implemented in fall 2004 and includes approximately 3,200 children (48% Hispanic; 1,549 out of 3,247) attending six elementary schools (4 intervention; 2 control). Data are collected at baseline/fall and follow-up/spring (demographic information, height, weight, BMI percentiles, sedentary behavior and food consumption data). HOPS Study interventions include modified dietary offerings, nutrition and lifestyle educational curricula, school gardens, and other school-based wellness projects, with the goal of reducing childhood obesity rates in a manner that is replicable in other public school settings. Results: Overall, 2005-2006 data show statistically significant differences between treatment groups with respect to changes in age- and gender-specific body mass index (BMI) percentiles [intervention: mean change=-1.73, std dev=13.55; control: mean change=-.47, std dev-12.09; p-.007]. Analyses of subgroups show statistically significant differences between intervention groups for BMI risk groups as well as some quintiles, when controlling for one control school with a particularly rigorous physical activity program [table deleted due to space restrictions]. Conclusions: Early results show HOPS Study interventions improve BMI percentiles of elementary-aged children. Additional data collection and analyses, over time, will provide important data to inform school-based obesity prevention strategies.

Learning Objectives:
Discuss the statistically significant health improvements of elementary-aged children attending schools with rigorous dietary modifications to school foods coupled with nutrition education programming (as measured by changes in age and gender specific body mass index (BMI) percentiles). Describe the school-based dietary, nutrition education, and physical activity interventions of the Healthier Options for Public Schoolchildren (HOPS) Study that resulted in measurable improvements in children’s BMI percentiles. Describe the data collection methodology used to collect and analyze anthropometric measures of approximately 4,000 elementary-aged children two times per school-year. Articulate the effects of HOPS, and other similar school-based nutrition and lifestyle management programs, on the health and well-being of children.

Keywords: Obesity, Children

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

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.