title: Fit Kids/Fit Families: a report on a countywide effort to promote healthy behaviors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Funded by the Wisconsin Partnership Fund for a Healthy Future and Aurora Health Care, Fit Kids/Fit Families (FKFF) is a multidisciplinary, family system approach to weight management that was developed and implemented by a community-academic partnership with the goal of reducing and preventing childhood overweight and obesity, increasing physical activity, and improving overall family health.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of Washington County children and their families participated in this 12-week program, which promoted healthy lifestyle changes. Data was collected pre- and post-intervention on age, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), body circumference measurements, child and family habits, and child self-esteem. A weekly nutrition, activity and behavioral log captured behaviors. Weekly 2-hour meetings in a community setting using a dietician, behaviorist, and exercise specialist addressed each of these areas.
  
  
  RESULTS
  FKFF has served 68 children and their families. Two-thirds are female; the mean age is 10.4 years (age range, 5-16). Both parents (96%) and children (81%) demonstrated improved knowledge and attitudes regarding healthy lifestyle changes. Logs report that 59% of the children increased their physical activity and 32% reduced their sedentary activity. While 81% improved and 13% maintained BMI, 74% of the children showed decreased total body circumferences. Nearly two-thirds demonstrated improved self-esteem on the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preliminary results suggest FKFF has an effect on healthier nutritional choices, increased physical activity, decreased sedentary activity, overall healthier behaviors, and body circumference and BMI reductions.
authors.affiliation: Aurora Health Care, Grant Development, Milwaukee, WI, USA. Iljoosse1@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Joosse
authors.forename: Marjorie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stearns
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hartlaub
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Euclide
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001828:Body Image; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012649:Self Concept; D014922:Wisconsin / Q000453:epidemiology