title: Feasibility of a home-delivered Internet obesity prevention program for fourth-grade students.
abstract: This pilot study examined the feasibility of an interactive obesity prevention program delivered to a class of fourth-grade students utilizing daily e-mail messages sent to the students' home computers. The study involved a single intact class of 22 students, 17 (77%) of whom submitted parental permission documentation and received e-mail messages each school day over the course of one month. Concerns regarding Internet safety and children's use of e-mail were addressed fairly easily. Cost/benefit issues for the school did not seem prohibitive. Providing e-mail access to students without a home computer was accomplished by loaning them personal digital assistant (PDA) devices. In larger interventions, loaning PDAs is probably not feasible economically, although cell phones may be an acceptable alternative. It was concluded that this type of interactive obesity prevention program is feasible from most perspectives. Data from a larger scale effectiveness study is still needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management, University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Owens
authors.forename: Laurel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McDonough
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Loftin
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D034742:Electronic Mail; D015444:Exercise; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012572:School Health Services