title: Investing in heart-healthy children: a primary prevention innovation in Atlantic Canada.
abstract: Inactivity and unhealthy eating are precursors to the development of coronary artery disease. In Atlantic Canada, there is a widely recognized escalation of obesity and Type 2 diabetes in children. Our multidisciplinary group developed a three-year program targeting children in grades 4, 5 and 6 in an effort to alter this debilitating life course. This pilot program comprises education, physical activity, evaluation and research. Working in teams, students' physical activity levels and pedometer readings are tracked as they virtually walk across Canada. Monthly motivation assemblies and feature activities are integrated into the program. Evaluation of the education component is provided by pre- and post-tests. Evaluation of the physical activity component is composed of the activity logbooks. Parent and teacher surveys are administered once a year.
authors.affiliation: Halifax Infirmary, QE II Health Sciences Centre, Room 6249, Halifax, NS B3H 3A7. Gillian.yates@cdha.nshealth.ca
authors.forename: Gillian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yates
authors.forename: Wanda
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cornish
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: C L Hancock
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Friesen
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D015362:Child Nutrition Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015444:Exercise; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D016015:Logistic Models; D009674:Nova Scotia / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D018570:Risk Assessment; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*