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Evaluation of the Planet Health Intervention in an Indiana Middle School
Author(s) -
Bai Yeon,
Tanner David A,
Caine Virginia A,
Omoiele Nyota,
Fly Alyce D
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.5.a1011-a
Subject(s) - overweight , medicine , ethnic group , intervention (counseling) , physical activity , obesity , zoology , physical therapy , nursing , sociology , anthropology , biology
The Planet Health program is a middle school intervention that promotes low fat eating, increased fruit and vegetable intake, increased physical activity (PA) and reduced TV and video viewing. To evaluate the impact of this program on a Marion County (metropolitan‐area) middle school, the School Physical Activity and Nutrition questionnaire was administered to students prior to and post delivery of the intervention program in both a test (I) school (N=509) and a similar “control” (C) school (N=124) and analyzed using Chi square and independent t‐tests, α=0.05. Ethnicity and proportion of students at risk for or overweight (high BMI) at both schools were similar (predominant ethnicity Black 43 (I) vs 49% (C); high BMI 41.7% (I) vs 43.7% (C). There were no differences in self‐reported food intake, PA and screen time prior to the intervention. Post intervention, 7 th and 8 th grade I school students reported reduced fat and soda intake, and lower screen time compared to C students. Decreased fat intake was noted from changes in type of milk consumed, e.g., more I students chose low or reduced fat milk, 91% (I) vs 35% (C) for 7 th , and 87% (I) vs 36% (C) in 8 th graders, p<.001. Percent of students reporting >1 soda daily was 36 (I) vs 60 (C) for 7 th and 37 vs 61 for 8 th graders, p<.001. More I students met the program goal of ‘< 2 hours of screen time/day’ than C (77 vs 55% of 7 th and 76 vs 37% of 8 th graders, p<.001). There was no impact of the fruit/vegetable or physical activity promotion in either grade. Funded in part by the Health and Hospital Corp. of Marion County