Is healthy for life (H4L), a community-driven, low-cost health education intervention delivered in public schools, effective in reducing childhood obesity in the napa valley unified school district (NVUSD)?

Childhood obesity in Napa, CA has risen to 39%, giving Napa County the highest rate in the region. The Healthy for Life (H4L) program is a school-based community-driven health education program implemented in the Napa Valley Unified School District (NVUSD). The program delivers nutrition and physical activity health education classes designed to improve children's healthy eating and physical activity behaviors. The study's purpose is to assess if H4L, a community coalition-developed program, is effective in reducing childhood obesity over time. Body Mass Indexes (BMIs) were assessed in 446 students of the NVUSD. BMI measurements were taken at the beginning and end of the 2011-2012 school year. CDC Growth Charts were used to establish overweight (85-94% BMI) or obese (95%+) categories for analysis of change over time. A registered dietician taught three nutrition classes per school year and fitness instructors taught two exercise classes monthly in each participating classroom. P.E. and classroom teachers also participated in a one-day physical activities training at the beginning of the school year to increase teacher motivation and the variety of physical activities offered. Of the 446 assessed children, 14.5% of the students who were considered obese or overweight decreased their BMIs from the obese to overweight category or from overweight to normal BMI category. Relatively low-cost and low-intensity community-driven, school-based programs such as H4L may be been effective in reducing childhood obesity, and because of collaboration of a wide range of community partners may be a sustainable and effective approach over time. on 2-15-2013-->