A policy and environmental response to overweight in childhood: the impact of Gold Medal Schools.
BACKGROUND
The prevalence of overweight among US children and adolescents has increased substantially since 1980. As a result, overweight in childhood and adolescence has become a substantial health problem that requires effective health promotion programs and interventions.


BACKGROUND
Coinciding with the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, the Utah Department of Health (UDOH) developed a pilot program called Gold Medal Schools (GMS) to promote healthy lifestyles among school-aged children.


METHODS
The GMS program was designed to help schools develop policies and create healthy school environments to meet specific criteria at 5 levels: bronze, silver, gold, platinum, and platinum focus. Participating schools, mentored by the UDOH, earn incentives to create a healthy school environment.


CONCLUSIONS
A total of 316 schools and approximately 166,600 students in 37 Utah school districts have participated in the GMS program. As a result, 1,029 medals have been awarded, 2,205 policies have been developed, and 2,121 environmental changes have been reported since program inception (2001-2002 school year).


CONCLUSIONS
Because of their participation in the GMS program, schools have developed and implemented a wide range of school-based policies and environmental changes. To improve the program, we recommend enhanced efforts in impact and outcome evaluation and increased participation in vigorous-intensity physical activity during the school day.
Neiger
Brad L
BL
Department of Health Science, 221F Richards Building, Provo, UT 84602, USA. Brad_Neiger@byu.edu
Thackeray
Rosemary
R
Hanson
Carl L
CL
Rigby
Sarah
S
Hussey
Chelsea
C
Anderson
Jonathan W
JW
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D009043:Motor Activity; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012574:Schools / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014589:Utah; D055815:Young Adult
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