Fit Families: Preventing obesity by engaging families, WIC Program staff, and community partners to improve children's nutrition and physical activity habits

FIT Families was developed by 6 Wisconsin WIC Association members to address childhood overweight/obesity in lower socio-economic families. At the family level, parents of preschoolers received 12 monthly contacts (face-to-face or phone) with FIT Families Nutritionists that focused on goals for core messages: make every bite count; make every sip count; move more watch less; eat healthy be active, your kids are watching. At the organizational level, FIT Families Centers were established, including training for staff and new policies to improve the WIC clinic environment and promote healthy eating and activity habits for staff and families. At the community level, partnerships were formed with Head Start, Family Resource Centers, child care programs, libraries, farmers markets, grocery stores, and healthcare providers to promote program concepts. The evaluation at the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute used a quasi-experimental comparison group design. For cohort 1 children, the proportion who ate ≥4 servings of fruits/vegetables per day increased from 32% to 58% (comparison group remained 44%). OR=2.18, 95%CI=1.56-3.04, p<.001. Children who consumed ≤6 ounces of juice per day increased from 46% to 60% (comparison remained 48%). OR=1.70, 95%CI=1.23-2.35, p<.01. Children with <2 hours per day of screen time increased from 47% to 63% (comparison decreased 55% to 48%). OR=2.09, 95%CI=1.50-2.90, p<.001. WIC clinic environment scores increased (p<.05). Pre/post staff training surveys showed increased knowledge (p<.05) and increased confidence in promoting healthy eating and active lifestyles (p<.05). The presentation will also include final results for cohort 2, participant satisfaction, and effects for Hmong and Hispanic families.