Ecological strategies to promote healthy body image among children.
BACKGROUND
Personal habits of children and adolescents related to healthy body image (BI) are influenced by various determinants in the micro- and macroenvironment. These include attitudes and behaviors about eating; exercise and physical appearance modeled by parents, teachers, and peers; as well as opportunities to learn new habits and social praise for healthy choices. The coordinated school health program (CSHP) is compatible with the 5 levels of an ecological approach to developing new health behaviors.


METHODS
Authors systematically applied the ecological model to all 8 components of coordinated school health. Next, strategies for each of the components were developed using the professional literature as well as author expertise in the areas of health education, exercise science, and dietetics.


RESULTS
For each strategy, applicable health and physical education standards, as well as goals for each strategy and additional Web resources, were provided to assist educators and administrators in supporting healthy BI among students.


CONCLUSIONS
Educators may effectively use a coordinated approach to guide multiple intervention activities aimed at increasing healthy habits among adolescents and their families. The strength of the CSHP is its collaborative nature with active participation by students, faculty members, family caregivers, agency professionals, community residents, and health care providers.
Evans
Retta R
RR
School of Education, University of Alabama at Birmingham, EB 259, 1530 3rd Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35294-1250, USA. rrevans@uab.edu
Roy
Jane
J
Geiger
Brian F
BF
Werner
Karen A
KA
Burnett
Donna
D
D000293:Adolescent; D001828:Body Image; D002648:Child; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D005522:Food Services; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education; D040361:Healthy People Programs; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D002666:Psychology, Child; D012572:School Health Services; D012649:Self Concept; D014481:United States