CHICAGO— The 2008-09 Healthy Schools Partnership pilot study to influence healthful diet choices among grade school students has been deemed successful in the fight to reduce childhood obesity, according to new findings released by The American Dietetic Association Foundation, American Council for Fitness and Nutrition and PE4life.
The Healthy Schools Partnership Program placed RD Nutrition Coaches at three public elementary schools in the Kansas City, Mo., area over a 14-week period: eight weeks in the fall and six weeks in the spring. The Coaches worked with fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade students, providing several nutrition education programs including weekly, one-on-one nutrition counseling, physical education games incorporating food and nutrition lessons and informational materials on how to make healthy food choices at school and home.
“We are thrilled with the initial success of the Healthy Schools Partnership program,” said registered dietitian Judith L. Dodd, chair of the ADA Foundation. “ADAF is dedicated to reducing the incidence of childhood obesity in this country, and the positive feedback we’ve received from the pilot program is a great step towards reaching this goal. We are excited to expand the pilot program to more schools throughout 2009-2010 and across the country over the coming years.”