Impact of Body Quest: Food of the Warrior on Key Indicators for Childhood Obesity Prevention

Research Article

Austin J Pediatr. 2015; 2(1): 1019.

Impact of Body Quest: Food of the Warrior on Key Indicators for Childhood Obesity Prevention

Parmer SM*, Streumpler B, Griffin JB and Funderburk KM

Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Nutrition Education Program, Auburn University, USA

*Corresponding author: HParmer SM; Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program- Education (SNAP-Ed), Nutrition Education Program; Auburn University, 208 Duncan Hall, Auburn University, AL 36849, USA

Received: May 05, 2015; Accepted: September 08, 2015; Published: September 28, 2015

Abstract

Strategies to combat childhood obesity are a top public health priority as overweight and obesity rates in children have risen to alarming rates over the past two decades. Overweight and obese children are at greater risk for many adult on-set diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and bone and joint problems, as well as adult obesity. Determining effective childhood obesity prevention initiatives is one step toward combating early on-set of disease and reversing these staggering statistics in children. Body Quest is an initiative developed to combat childhood obesity in a SNAP-Ed eligible, thirdgrade population. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the BQ curriculum on behaviors and intentions related to obesity prevention measures in 3,568 third-grade students. Students were randomized into treatment (BQ education) or control. Treatment students were exposed to vegetables bi-weekly during the 17-week BQ curriculum.Treatment students reported significant improvements,compared to control students (p<0.001), on five key indicators related to accepted obesity prevention initiatives: increasing fruit and vegetable intake, physical activity and breakfast consumption; as well as reducing screen time and sugar sweetened beverages. These outcomes add to the evidence that educationally appropriate, engaging programs, targeted to children can positively impact several key indicators to assist with obesity prevention efforts.

Keywords: Childhood obesity; Fruit and vegetable consumption; Lowincome; Elementary; Obesity prevention

Abbreviations

FV: Fruits and Vegetables; PA: Physical Activity; SSB: Sugar Sweetened Beverages; SNAP: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; SNAP-Ed: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program- Education; BQ: Body Quest; NEP: Alabama SNAP-Ed Nutrition Education Program; FRL: Free or Reduced Price Lunch; IRB: Institutional Review Board; W4L: What’s for Lunch; BMI: Body Mass Index

Introduction

Obesity prevention is the paramount of public health and nutrition education initiatives in the United States. Obesity and obesity-related diseases plague 34.9% of American adults [1]. The increase in childhood obesity during the past two decades is even more alarming. Currently, more than one third of children and adolescents are overweight or obese, with obesity affecting 18% of children ages 6-11 years [2]. From 1980 to 2012, the percent of obese children age 6-11 years more than doubled (7% to 18%) [2]. Obese youth are at greater risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, bone and joint problems, as well as adult obesity [2].

School-age children represent an important target for nutrition education. Early lifestyle and behavior changes, such as increasing Fruit and Vegetable (FV) intake and Physical Activity (PA), reducing Sugar-Sweetened Beverage (SSB) intake and screen time, and eating breakfast may reduce, or prevent, the chronic disease burden associated with obesity in this vulnerable population. Limited- resource individuals, such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients, are also disproportionately affected by obesity and related chronic diseases. Reaching this population through SNAP-Education (SNAP-Ed) is a key strategy for tackling adult and childhood obesity and health issues. One promising strategy to reach the SNAP population is through Body Quest: Food of the Warrior (BQ) [3]. Body Quest is a school-based initiative of the Alabama SNAP-Ed Nutrition Education Program (NEP). Body Quest is a childhood obesity prevention program for elementary youth, particularly third graders in schools with 50% or more of students receiving free or reduced price lunches (FRL).

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the BQ initiative on behaviors and intentions related to accepted obesity prevention mediators (such as increasing FV intake, increasing PA, reducing screen time, reducing SSB and eating breakfast) in an elementary age population. Positive behaviors adopted during childhood are likely to continue into adulthood.

Methods

Study population and recruitment

In fall 2013, 3,568 third-grade students from 80 schools in 47 Alabama counties were recruited by SNAP-Ed Extension nutrition educators (n=24) to participate in BQ. Classes were taught in SNAPEd eligible schools. To be eligible for SNAP-Ed, a school must have = 50% of students receiving FRL. Extension educators read standardized recruitment scripts aloud to students in the classroom. Parents of participants provided signed written consent prior to student participation in any BQ activity. Auburn University’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved this study.

Instrumentation

What’s for Lunch, iChallenge and All About Foods assessments were created to document students’ knowledge, intentions and behaviors for diet and PA between pre- and post-assessments. Participant ethnicity and racial background were provided by each school administrator (Table 1), and were reported using the following categories: Non-Hispanic or Hispanic; White, Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and Multiracial.