School-based obesity prevention: a blueprint for taming the epidemic.
OBJECTIVE
To review the literature on school-based obesity prevention programs to identify what can be done to minimize the increasing levels of obesity.


METHODS
Twenty articles reporting school-based dietary or physical activity change programs were identified that used BMI or skinfolds as part of the evaluation.


RESULTS
Seven studies obtained change in BMI and differed from those not finding change in 3 ways: program implementers were not classroom teachers; intervention targeted middle or high schools; and inactivity reduction was promoted.


CONCLUSIONS
An 8-step research strategy was delineated to develop and evaluate programs with a maximum chance of taming the obesity epidemic.
Baranowski
Tom
T
Children's Nutrition Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030-2600, USA. tbaranow@bcm.tmc.edu
Cullen
Karen W
KW
Nicklas
Theresa
T
Thompson
Deborah
D
Baranowski
Janice
J
D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015444:Exercise; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology