Champions for Healthy Kids: Blocking the Pathway from Obesity to

Diabetes

Presented and Written by:

Arnold Hartman, Cindy Hasler, and Jeff Shaver

I. Purpose Statement• The purpose of our program is to provide a self

selective group of students an extensive health and life style program focusing on improving healthy choices, an active lifestyle, and an awareness of personal health concerns.

• This program is aimed at blocking the pathway from obesity and diabetes. Preventio

n NOT Treatments

II. Projective OverviewOur children are becoming less and less active because of so many other choices that are less strenuous or mind-invoking.

Snacks and fast food are becoming the “American” way.

Some Statistics• National Institute for Health stated that moderate to vigorous

activity averaged three hours daily at age 9, yet tapered off to 49 minutes daily by age 15.

• Childhood obesity has more than tripled in 30 years.• Childhood obesity age 6 to 11 years increased from 6.5% in

1980 to 19.6% in 2008.• Obese youth are more likely than youth of normal weight to

become overweight or obese adults increasing their risk for associated health problems, including heart disease and diabetes.

• Our primary purpose will be to provide a group of students with some education about the benefits of healthy choices along with a fitness program to help prevent obesity, now and later in life, in an effort to reduce diabetes.

III. Problem Statement

Information to support our program comes from many studies….

• Philip Nader (UC – San Diego, 2008) recorded the activity levels of more that 800 students.

• His results showed the following:

Age 9 -11 Age 150%

10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%60 minutes of physical activity daily

Other Studies showed

• 50% of the US adults are overweight or obese and research shows that it is difficult to reduce weight once it has been established.

• Only 10% of the overweight or obese adults are able to sustain significant weight loss permanently.

Most studies on childhood obesity report the

following:• Overweight and obesity are assumed to be the results of an

increase in caloric and fat intake. • There is supporting evidence that excessive sugar intake by

soft drink, increased portion size, and steady decline in physical activity have been playing major roles in the rising rates of obesity all around the world.

• Consequently, both over-consumption of calories and reduced physical activity are involved in childhood obesity.

• With all this in mind, it is clear that more can be done to address preventative strategies for obesity and diabetes involving children.

Prevention NOT Treatments

IV. Project Methodology

Goal

• To improve the eating and physical activity patterns of local elementary and middle school-aged kids, through high school mentoring and local agency involvement.

Long Term Objectives• Prevention of overweight, obesity, and diabetes in

childhood and adulthood.• Prevention of risk factors into adulthood such as

cholesterol, lower bone density, heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

• The development of healthy lifestyle habits that persist throughout the program, and into adulthood.

Short Term Objectives• Participants will participate in appropriate level of

physical activity per day.• Consume appropriate dairy, grains, fruits and veggies*.• Earn “President’s Active Lifestyle Award”.• Receive nutrition and fitness mentoring.• Achieve appropriate body mass index (BMI).*Note: These goals are recommendation from the 2005 “Dietary Guidelines for

Americans” published by the American Dietetic Association.

Procedure• The focus and layout of the program

is designed specifically for the General Mills Champions for Health Kids Grant.

• A partnership with the American Dietetic Association Foundation and the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.

Part 1: Program Logistics

• Target Audience: Elementary & Middle School• Reach: 5 mentors + 20 participants• Duration: 6 weeks• Intensity: 2 weekly mentor-participant meetings (3

hours), and 1 weekly Sat. or Sun. meeting (3 hours)• Sustainability: $10,000 General Mills Grant plus

support from local agencies are expected to sustain program.

• Setting: High School, then YMCA or Boys & Girls Club.• Budget: Body Buggs©, Wi© game consoles, laptops

Part 2: Partnerships• Partner with local non-profit or not-for profit

organizations (e.g. YMCA)• Registered Dietitian or Dietetic Technician• Physical Trainer & Local Gym• “Find a Nutrition Professional” (www.eatright.org)

Part 3: Technology• Increase participant interest in program, and

accuracy of nutrition and exercise data• Will connect Body Buggs© to laptops for analysis• Mentor-participant communication via Internet• Wi© game consoles available for loan• Vernier equipment may be utilized

Part 4-6: Mentors• Complete PLTW Principles in Biomedical Sciences.• Develop exercise program with physical trainer• Work with dietitians to implement best practices.• Mentors will be professional and patient (Part V).• Nutrition/exercise logs, nutritional discussions,

planned exercises, Internet communication (Part VI).

Part 7: Sample Schedule

Time: Activity Description:9:00 – 9:45 am: Participants upload nutritional and physical

activity data from Body Buggs© to laptops with the assistance of mentors.

9:45 – 10:00 am: Mentor and participants discuss any questions or concerns, and share insights.

10:00 – 10:30 am: Mentor discusses health nutrition options with participants, prepare a healthy snack.

10:30 – 10:45 am: Participants are provided a short break to enjoy snacks and change for exercise.

10:45 – 11:00 am: Discus physical activity for the day.11:00 – 12:00 pm: Physical Activity (focused on portions of

“President’s Active Lifestyle Award”12:00 – 1:00pm: Healthy meal provided (if possible) with time

to upload and analyze new Body Bugg© data, if interested or time allows.

V. Available Resources

Educational information:• Ad Council• American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE)• American Diabetes Association• Diabetes Action Research and Education Foundation• Healthy Kids Healthy Communities• Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International

(JDRF)• The Obesity Society • Shape Up America

Available ResourcesPossible Partnerships:• Boys and Girls Club • Children’s Hospital• YMCA• Other Local Hospitals

Available ResourcesFree Consultation Services:• Diabetes Exercise and Sports Association

(DESA)• National Call Center (Part of the American

Diabetes Association)• National Diabetes Information

ClearinghouseGrant Resource:• General Mills

VI. Summary

EvaluationShort Term Evaluation• Apparent changes in participants behavior, knowledge, awareness

and attitudes by using a survey.• The survey will be given at the beginning, the middle, and at the

end of the program.• Body Buggs© will provide an evaluation of the physical activity

along with a dietary log which will be used to analyze proper nutrition; deficient and excess caloric intake.

Long Term Evaluation• The long term goal is for the program to grow from year to year

without the quality of the program diminishing. • This will be accomplished with surveys, input from health

professionals, and advice and suggestions from partnering individuals and agencies.

• Continual review of best practices to improve strategies to combat and prevent childhood obesity and early onset of diabetes.

Evaluation

Final Evaluation

• Keep major goals and objectives of the program in mind at all times:

1. Prevention of overweight, obesity and diabetes in children.

2. Develop healthy lifestyle habits both physical and nutritional.

VII. Grant Proposal Sources• Center for Disease Control

• Journal of the American Dietetic Association• Journal of the American Medical Association• Journal of Applied Physiology• Journal of Physiology• Nutrition Journal• President’s Challenge• U.S. Department of Human and Health Resources• U.S. Surgeon General Report

• Center of Disease Control and Prevention Community, 2009. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Community Guide to Preventive Services, Physical Activity. Atlanta: Georgia; [accessed 2010 July 23]. Available from: http://www.thecommunityguide.org/pa/

• Dehghan M, Akhtar-Danesh N, Merchant AT. Childhood obesity, prevalence and prevention. 2005 Nutrition Journal. [accessed 2010 July 27] Available from: http://www.nutritionj.com

• Freeland-Graves, JR PhD, RD and Nitzke, S PhD, RD Position of The American Dietetic Association: Total Diet Approach to Communicating Food And Nutrition Information, Journal of the American Dietetic Association [Internet], [accessed 2010 July 25]; 102(1):100-108. Available from: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science

• General Mills: Champions for Healthy Kids [Internet] 2009. Minnesota: [assessed 2010 July 21]. Available from http://www.generalmills.com/en/ Responsibility/Community_Engagement/Grants/Champions_for_healthy_kids

• Levin BE. 2007. Why some of us get fat and what we can do about it. Journal of Physiology. 583:425-230.

• Nader, Philip. 2008. Children’s physical activity drops from age 9 to 15, NIH study indicates by 15, most fail to reach recommended activity level. . Journal of the American Medical Association. [Internet], [accessed 2008 July 16]; Volume 300 (3): 295-305. Available from: http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content

• National Center for Health Statistics. 2004. Health, United States, 2004 with Chartbook on trends in the health of Americans. [Internet] Hyattsville: MD; [accessed 2010 July 27]. Available from : http://cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/obesity

• Ogden, CL, Carroll MD, Curtin LR, Lamb MM, Flegal KM. 2010. Prevalence of high body mass index in US children and adolescents. Journal of the American Medical Association [Internet], [accessed 2010 July 27]; 303(3):242-9. Available from: http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content

• The President’s Challenge. 2009-2010. Physical Activity and Fitness Award program. [accessed: 2010 July 23]. Available: http://www.presidentschallenge.org

• Teran-Garcia M, Rankinen T, Bouchard C. Genes, exercise, growth, and the sedentary, obese child. 2008. Journal of Applied Physiology. 105: 988-1001.

• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2005. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, including a focus on helping participants eat an overall balanced diet rather than avoiding specific foods. [Internet] Washington: D.C. [accessed 2010 July 27] Available from: http://www.healthierus.gov/dietaryguidelines

• U.S. Surgeon General. 2001. Overweight and obesity: health consequences. [Internet] Rockville: Md [accessed 2010 July 27]. Available from: http://cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/obesity