The Effectiveness of a Local Public Health Program to Influence Fitness and Nutrition Goals in Children
Citation:
The Ohio Journal of Science, v107, n2 (April, 2007), 10-15.Abstract:
A local public health department conducted a program to improve childhood fitness and nutrition known as "A Healthier Me" (AHM). AHM is a one-hour multidisciplinary outreach program conducted for children ages 5 to 12 (n = 129). The program included a survey of 'risk behaviors' and 'fitness and nutrition goals.' AHM was effective at improving nutrition goals (7 versus 5 days per week, p <0.05) in children not exposed to excessive television watching. Children who ate fast food were 5 times more likely to excessively watch TV (95% CI 3.5, 7.5) and 3.9 times more likely to not eat 5 servings of fruits or vegetables per day
(95% CI 2.9, 5.3). Children who did not eat 5 or more servings of fruits or vegetables per day were 3.2 times more likely to watch
TV excessively (95% CI 1.9, 5.6). The odds of obesity was 101.5 times greater for children who do not eat 5 or more servings of
fruits and vegetables per day (95% CI 2.06 to 4993.7). In children who attended AHM twice (n = 20), exercise sessions increased
from 4.9 to 6.9 per week, (p = not significant); watching TV hours decreased from 4.4 to 3.2 hours per day (p <0.01), and eating fruits and vegetables increased from 5.2 to 5.6 days of the week (p = 0.06). AHM improves fitness and nutrition goals. Improving uptake of fruits and vegetables per day is extremely important in reducing obesity in children ages 5 to 12.
Description:
Author Institution: Greene County Combined Health District, Xenia
Type:
ArticleISSN:
0030-0950Rights:
Reproduction of articles for non-commercial educational or research use granted without request if credit to The Ohio State University and The Ohio Academy of Science is given.Items in Knowledge Bank are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.