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Description
Overweight and obesity are serious health concerns that impact the health of individuals at many levels. Families and communities are also impacted by the overweight and obesity epidemic. Current estimates of children who are overweight in the United States are 17% of children ages 6 to 11 and 17.6% of children ages 12 to 19. Although overweight and obesity rates are high among the general population; rates are even higher among minority and low-income populations. Schools have been researched for their effectiveness in reducing overweight and obesity prevalence; along with increasing behaviors such as healthier nutrition and physical activity and knowledge. However, few studies exist that examine the impact of school-based interventions on primarily low-income, minority populations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of TODAY (Transforming Obesity and Diabetes Awareness in Youth), a school-based intervention with the goal of preventing obesity and diabetes in the fifth grade population at two low-income, primarily Hispanic/Latino elementary schools in Escondido, California. The study examined nutrition, physical activity and health knowledge variables. A sample of 123 children, all 5th grade students who attended either Felicita or Lincoln elementary schools were recruited to participate in the project. The changes in nutrition and physical activity variables were measured by questions adapted from the School Physical Activity and Nutrition Questionnaire (SPAN) created by Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH). The knowledge variable was measured by questions based on the health curriculum that pertained to nutrition and physical activity. It was hypothesized that children who participated in the project would demonstrate increases in healthy nutrition behavior such as fruit and vegetable consumption and decrease soft-drink consumption; demonstrate increase in physical activity behavior and decrease sedentary behavior of screen time; lastly the students would increase knowledge of nutrition and physical activity concepts taught in the intervention. Statistical analyses included Wilcoxon rank sum test and Wilcoxon signed rank test. Results from the pre/post test indicated that the children who participated in the TODAY Project, increased fruit and vegetable consumption, physical activity and health knowledge. Findings of this research are consistent with previously published articles on school-based interventions. However, unlike previous research this study was unable to demonstrate significant decreases in soda consumption and sedentary behavior. Understanding the impact of the school on the health of its students will allow for effective school based interventions that are capable of curving the overweight and obesity epidemic, especially among the most at-risk populations.