title: Results of a 3-year, nutrition and physical activity intervention for children in rural, low-socioeconomic status elementary schools.
abstract: Improving children's nutrition and physical activity have become priorities in the United States. This quasi-experimental study evaluated the longitudinal effects of a 3-year, school-based, health promotion intervention (i.e. nutrition and physical education, classroom physical activity, professional development and health promotion for teachers and families, and strengthening wellness policies and family/community partnerships) on children's health behaviors in four, rural, low-socioeconomic status elementary schools. A total of 999 kindergarten to third-grade children participated in data collection consisting of 4-day pedometer tracking and previous-day fruits and vegetables consumption recall from baseline in January, 2011 through 12 follow-up assessments ending May, 2013. The mixed-effects regression models showed that children's nutrition and physical activity behaviors significantly improved over the 3-year intervention. The percentages of children who met the nutrition recommendation increased from 11 to 23% for girls and 12 to 23% for boys, while the percent who met the physical activity recommendation increased from 1 to 16% for girls and 3 to 7% for boys. Further, children's age and their school impacted certain intervention effects. This school-based intervention could be disseminated to promote healthy behaviors among rural disadvantaged children. Engaging parents and community partnerships is recommended to expand the traditional, children-focused education interventions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Louisville, 110b Crawford, Louisville, KY 40292, USA and kristi.king@louisville.edu.
authors.forename: Kristi McClary
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: King
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Michigan State University, 1355 Bogue Street, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
authors.forename: Jiying
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ling
mesh_terms: D056044:Actigraphy; D002648:Child; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012424:Rural Population; D012572:School Health Services; D012923:Social Class; D014675:Vegetables