School-Based Strategies to Prevent Childhood Obesity and Diabetes

Background

The Follow the Leader (FTL) program was developed in conjunction with Head Start's I Am Moving I am Learning (IMIL) curriculum. The IMIL curriculum was developed to motivate pre-school children to become physically active. FTL curriculum educates parents on the principles of nutrition and physical fitness taught in IMIL in order to ensure a cohesive message from school to home.

Significance

The FTL program exemplifies a unique collaboration between non-profit/public charity and school district. The conjoined efforts have led to a significant increase in knowledge and behavioral change for both pre-school children and their families.

Methodology

Pre and post-test questionnaires were utilized for quantitative results, and focus group discussions were conducted immediately following and 6-months after the intervention to measure qualitative results. Focus group discussions were themed and coded using grounded theory.

Results

Sixty-one participants were asked knowledge-based questions and behavioral/lifestyle questions. Data was analyzed using SPSS and SAS statistical programs. Areas of child/adult nutrition, obesity, chronic disease, exercise and target heart rate were found to be statistically significant. Evaluation results indicated statistical significance in behavior change in the areas of increased child consumption of fruits and vegetables, and weekly breakfast(s). Focus group discussions were highly correlated with quantitative knowledge and behavior change results.

Recommendations

This partnership substantiates a school-based strategy to prevent obesity and diabetes in families as an effective and successful approach to the obesity epidemic. We strongly recommend that similar collaborative efforts be replicated as a means to positively impact school health education.