Title: Changing Children's Lives: Overcoming Systemic Barriers in Education Administration to Address Childhood Obesity in an Urban Community

The prevalence of childhood obesity has dramatically increased in the United States with related adverse health consequences beginning in childhood and persisting into adulthood. The Health Association of Niagara County approached researchers at the University at Buffalo with a desire to attack the high rates of childhood obesity in an urban, lower socioeconomic school district. Despite developing a wellness policy, the school district lacked expertise to develop a functional design that would address and sustain long-term goals.

Originally district middle school students were targeted for intervention. Barriers encountered within the system (staff roles, staff training, curriculum, teacher union concerns, and medical privacy issues) resulted in a pilot sample of 100 middle school students attending an afterschool program. Pre and post data were collected. Body Mass Index percentiles (gender-age specific), aerobic capacity (PACER test), and program satisfaction were primary outcome measures. Results were shared with families through a Fitness Report Card.

Parents and school staff reported high levels of satisfaction and willingness to support children's lifestyle changes. PACER scores the following year revealed significant improvement in aerobic capacity of the students who had participated in year one.

Community partnership resulted in a change in school policy to include routine height, weight, BMI, PACER testing, and implementation of a Fitness Report Card. Relationships and mutual respect were established throughout the school district, extending participation to all 8400 district students in the 2007-2008 school year. Respect for organizational constraints, social-economic challenges, and cultural diversity was paramount to success and sustainability of this project.