title: A policy and environmental response to overweight in childhood: the impact of Gold Medal Schools.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Science, 221F Richards Building, Provo, UT 84602, USA. Brad_Neiger@byu.edu
authors.forename: Brad L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Neiger
authors.forename: Rosemary
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thackeray
authors.forename: Carl L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Hanson
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rigby
authors.forename: Chelsea
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hussey
authors.forename: Jonathan W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: 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
references.citation: J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2005 May;40(5):533-43
references.pmid: 15861011
references.citation: Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 1999 Mar;23 Suppl 2:S2-11
references.pmid: 10340798
references.citation: N Engl J Med. 1997 Sep 25;337(13):869-73
references.pmid: 9302300
references.citation: JAMA. 2006 Apr 5;295(13):1549-55
references.pmid: 16595758
references.citation: Pediatrics. 1999 Jun;103(6 Pt 1):1175-82
references.pmid: 10353925
references.citation: Lancet. 2002 Aug 10;360(9331):473-82
references.pmid: 12241736
references.citation: Obes Rev. 2006 Aug;7(3):261-9
references.pmid: 16866974