Pediatric Obesity
Conditions
Keywords
School, Family, Fruit and Vegetables, Cooking, Physical Activity
Brief summary
Fuel for Fun: Cooking with Kids Plus Parents and Play (FFF), is an integrated research, extension, and education project targeting 4th grade students. Its long-term goal of reducing the risk of childhood obesity will be addressed by promoting healthful food and activity environments, policies and behaviors through: 1) building and testing the efficacy of a 4th grade comprehensive school- and family-based intervention, 2) applying it to an after-school setting to broaden its reach, and, 3) disseminating both versions through outreach.
Detailed description
Fuel for Fun: Cooking with Kids Plus Parents and Play (FFF) is based on existing, evidence-based components: the experiential Cooking with Kids curriculum, the SPARK Active Recreation program; principles of behavioral economics in school cafeterias and homes; the online About Eating 5-lesson module based on eating competence concepts, and a family-based FFF component specifically designed for this intervention. Each component addresses policy and environment in addition to behavior change at school and home. The main research project - school-based FFF - will be implemented in 8 low-to-moderate income schools for two years using an asynchronous design that allows for assessment of the school-based program alone and in combination with both parent programs. Changes in fruit and vegetable intake (measured by self-report, cafeteria plate waste) and activity levels (measured by self-report and accelerometry) are primary outcomes, with measured BMI as a secondary outcome. Subsequent studies will involve the development of an after-school version and adoption of FFF by other districts. University students will gain valuable research experience and school and Extension educators will receive important childhood obesity prevention training. The project's long term goal is consistent with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) goal of improving the nation's nutrition and health by promoting the development of healthy eating and activity habits in children.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALSchool
students receive Cooking With Kids (CWK) - Colorado cooking & tasting lessons, SPARK active recess, and Cafeteria Connections
BEHAVIORALFamily
students receive the FFF family component - family nights, parent blog, and action packs that go home after each CWK-Colorado lesson
BEHAVIORALAbout Eating
parents who completed the parent survey are invited to access the 6 lesson online About Eating program
Sponsors
Penn State University
Poudre School District
Thompson School District
Rochester Institute of Technology
Colorado State University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
FACTORIAL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
7 Years to 12 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* all students enrolled in participating classrooms are invited to participate
Exclusion criteria
* none
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Fruit and Vegetable Consumption at School Lunch | assessed 4 times each 9-month school year; once prior to intervention beginning (i.e., September), approximately 10 weeks and then 20 weeks later, and finally once after the intervention ends (i.e., May). | using observation and digital photography we will assess student selection and consumption of fruits and vegetables during school lunch; measured at the grade level |
| Change in Student Activity Level | assessed 3 times over 1 year; initially prior to the intervention beginning (i.e., September), a 2nd time once the intervention ends (i.e., May), and then again at the beginning of the following school year (i.e., September) | Using accelerometers, we will assess a week of activity; 3 of 8 participating schools have been randomized to participate in this data collection |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Body Mass Index | assessed 3 times over 1 year; initially prior to the intervention beginning (i.e., September), a 2nd time once the intervention ends (i.e., May), and then again at the beginning of the following school year (i.e., September) | using a standard protocol, we will measure height and weight of all participating students and then calculate BMI z-scores |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed