Learner Objectives:
The complexity of the obesity epidemic as a major public health problem complicates prevention and health promotion efforts. Many factors—from physical education in schools decreasing to portion sizes increasing—impact the problem from all angles. Targeting adolescents directly may be most effective, yet studies increasingly show that parental involvement is also very important.
In 1999-2001, experts conducted qualitative consumer research that lead to developing multiple resources geared toward parents and children. The goal of this project aims to increase communication and deliver positive, healthy lifestyle messages. The Kidnetic.com Web site was developed in response to families requesting innovative forms of health education information. Most recently, the Kidnetic.com Leader’s Guide for Healthy Eating & Active Living for Kids & Families was developed as a tangible resource, allowing a broader range of audiences to learn about the valuable health and nutrition information on the Kidnetic.com Web site without having to access the Internet.
With the recent release of the Leader’s Guide, a series of pilot implementation studies launched in different areas. Each program will evaluate various settings and methods using the Leader’s Guide. The first pilot was conducted in a catholic school in Fairfax County, Virginia during June 2004. The results of this pilot will be compared to the program currently in progress in Kansas City, Missouri. The KidPower KC Challenge, a nutrition and physical activity initiative, targets children of minority populations in the area. A third pilot underway with the Boys and Girls Club in Baltimore, Maryland, focuses on 100-150 inner city, under served children and will conclude at the end of August 2004. A fourth, larger-scale study is being planned with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) at about 46-52 magnet locations selected from a geographical distribution from across the country. Each NRPA site will deliver the Leader’s Guide to 75-100 participants.
The results of the pilot programs will be evaluated after August 2004, offering an inside view of how resources such as the Leader’s Guide are implemented in a variety of community settings. Both Kidnetic.com and the Leader’s Guide signify important progress in the area of obesity prevention resources.