ACTIVE KIDS AFTER SCHOOL: THE ROLE OF AFTERSCHOOL

IN OBESITY PREVENTION

Judy Nee, Presidentjnee@naaweb.org

National AfterSchool Association

• The Voice of the Afterschool Profession

• Professional Association with 9,000 members and 36 state affiliates

• NAA Conference – Largest in the field!– March 21-23, 2007 – Phoenix, AZ

– www.NAAconference.org

• National Standards for Quality Programs

• Only National Accreditation System

• AfterSchool Review – Professional journal

Afterschool practitioners have a history of promoting behaviors

that help prevent obesity

• NAA National Standards for Quality Programs include physical activity and nutrition

• Practitioners have advocated for a focus on the whole child ~ including a healthy life-style

• Balanced programs provide opportunities for and encourage physical activity and limit passive, sedentary video-related activities

• High quality programs teach children to follow good nutrition guidelines and take care of self

Children’s Activities in After-School Arrangements Relevant to Obesity Issue

Type of Relative Nonrelative Center or Self-Care Activity Care Care School Programs

Total kids 6,041 2,304 6,680 4,765

TV/videos/Video games/

music

59%

48%

10% 58%

Outdoor play/activities

or sports

36%

49% 49% 24%

Eating/Snacks15%

19% 6% 10%

Computers13%

10% 12% 24%

From National Household Education Survey of before- and after-school care arrangements for children, grades K-8—(Kleiner, et al., 2004; based on data collected in 2000)

Physical Activity• Close to half (49%) of children (K-8) in center-

or school-based programs are reported to engage in outdoor play or physical activities

• Children in nonrelative care have the same participation rate, while children in relative care have somewhat less (36%).

• Children in self-care are the least likely to engage in these activities - only 24%

Sedentary Activities

Children in afterschool programs were far less likely

to be reported as engaging in passive and sedentary

activities such as watching television or videos and

playing video games. Only 10% of children in

afterschool programs are reported to engage in

these activities. This compares with 59% in relative

care, 48% in nonrelative care, and 49% in self-care.

Nutrition

Children in afterschool programs were less likely to spend time eating. 15% of children in relative care, 19% in nonrelative care, and 10% in self-care were reported to engage in eating or snacking, compared with only 6% in afterschool programs.

Conclusions

Data show the important potential of formal afterschool programs in

encouraging behaviors that contribute to a healthier lifestyle and reduced

incidence of obesity.

From National Household Education Survey of before and after school care arrangements for children, grades K-8 (Kleiner, et al, 2004; data collected in 2000)

A study of adolescent time use and health behavior found that afterschool participants spent less time eating and watching television and more time engaged in sports than nonparticipants (Vandell, et al., 2003)

The evaluation of the Planet Health curriculum to promote a healthier lifestyle developed by the Harvard School of Public Health for middle-schools found that reductions in television viewing predicted reductions in obesity among girls participating in the project. (Gortmaker, et al., 1999)

TASC evaluation identified the inclusion of sports and recreation activities as a feature of high-performing afterschool programs. The evaluators speculated that these activities helped attract participants to the program and provided the physical exercise needed for mental acuity. (Birmingham, et al., 2005)

Research Supports this Picture

How Can Afterschool Help Prevent Obesity?

• Focus on the whole child, providing a variety of activities for cognitive, physical, and social development

• Be health-centered rather than weight-centered and maintain cultural sensitivity

• Limit opportunities for passive, sedentary activities

• Include nutrition education and activities and model with healthy snacks

• Increase the provision of and participation in physical activities

• Become more intentional about the content and delivery of physical activities

Afterschool Programs Counteracting Obesity

U Move with the Starzz Salt Lake City

Promotes healthy lifestyles through physical activity

Hearts N’ Parks, developed by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the National Recreation and Park Association. Increases knowledge about heart-healthy lifestyles, improves attitudes toward and desire to participate in physical activities, and introduces and encourages participation in a ranges of physical activities.

Deal Me In Food and Fitness - California

Provides hands-on, engaging ways to introduce or reinforce healthy eating and physical activity messages in an afterschool setting.

Kids on the Move Atlanta, GAChildren ages 8 to 12 at high risk for cardiovascular diseases participate in organized physical activity for 25 minutes three times a week and participate in discussions on healthy lifestyle topics

Shape Up Somerville: Eat Smart. Play Hard. Somerville, MassachusettsTrains afterschool programs on cooking and nutrition education as well as how to use The HEAT Club (Health Eating and Active Time afterschool curriculum)

Afterschool Programs Counteracting Obesity

Curricula

• CANFit (California Adolescent Nutrition and Fitness) Program - Training and technical assistance and curricula, including CANFit Super Manual, P.H.A.T. (Promoting Healthy Activities Together), and Do More, Watch Less.

• SPARK After School - Physical activity program for children ages 5-14, with philosophy of include ALL youth, ALL youth active, and ALL youth learning to enjoy movement.

• Fitness Fun Forever - Florida Department of Education - Seeks to maximize each student’s participation time, focus on fitness components that will continue with the child into adulthood, and avoid eliminating or singling-out students.

Curricula

• CATCH Kids Club - Physical activity and nutrition education program for children grades K-5 in an afterschool/summer setting. Includes nutrition education materials and a physical activity component.

• Eat Well and Keep Moving - Focuses on grades 4-5. Includes walking club and walking logs as well as physical activities such as warm-up, stretch, finess activity, cool-down.

Best Practices for Increasing Physical Activity

• Activities are inclusive, voluntary, and developmentally appropriate, with a variety so there is something to appeal to everyone

• Make physical activity fun--avoid activities that make children sit-out

• Avoid situations where children have negative

experiences with sports that follow them into adulthood. Goal is to make physical activity a lifelong practice

• Provide quality adult leadership—training of staff is a key component of a successful program

• Strive to develop positive lifelong attitudes toward wellness and physical activity

Afterschool Programs as a Support

• The main point is to incorporate healthy lifestyle components in afterschool programs, but not create expectations that afterschool programs are the sole answer to the problem of childhood obesity.

• Many evaluations showed little or no significant weight reductions, although they have introduced children to concepts and behaviors that will stay with them and benefit them later in life.

• Before we can influence their lifestyles, we have to get them to come to the program.