We Can! Helps Families and Communities Prevent Childhood Obesity

We Can! (Ways to Enhance Children's Activity & Nutrition) is a national program designed as a one-stop resource for parents and caregivers interested in practical tools to help children 8-13 years old maintain a healthy weight. Activities focus on three critical behaviors: improved food choices, increased physical activity and reduced screen time. The program is a collaboration of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

We Can! began with a literature review on childhood obesity prevention; a Strategy Development Workshop; and an environmental scan of other Federal and non-Federal programs. A strategic plan supported by various theoretical frameworks and outlining specific audiences, approaches, and channels followed. We Can! offers a six-lesson parents' program, programs for students (S.M.A.R.T. and CATCH) and Media-Smart Youth, an interactive, after-school program about nutrition, physical activity and media awareness for young people 11-13.

Currently more than 140 community-based organizations, e.g. park and recreation departments, schools, health departments, hospitals are implementing We Can! using evidence-based curricula, community events, and media activities. Over 25 national partners and forty Fortune 500 companies are implementing the program or plan to. Media activities have generated over 250 million impressions. An assessment of the parent and youth curricula implementations in 14 intensive sites resulted in significant changes in self-reported knowledge, attitudes or behaviors. A separate evaluation of Media-Smart Youth will also be discussed.