title: Top 10 Lessons Learned from Project Healthy Schools.
abstract: Childhood obesity is increasing in the United States; obese children are more likely to become obese adults with obesity-associated health issues. Effective programs designed to reduce the prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity are needed. We sought to review one such program, Project Healthy Schools (PHS), for key findings. Project Healthy Schools is a health curriculum that includes educational lessons, school environment changes, and health measurement. Data have shown improvement in numerous metrics after the program, including positive changes in physiologic measures and healthier lifestyle behaviors. The school's socioeconomic status has been shown to correlate with baseline and follow-up measures, and gender differences exist. Additionally, school environmental changes support improved health behaviors. The collaborative effort and support of various stakeholders have led to the success of this health education program, resulting in numerous physiologic and behavioral benefits in middle school students throughout Michigan, and providing a replicable, real-world approach to combating childhood obesity.
authors.affiliation: Michigan Clinical Outcomes Research and Reporting Program, Ann Arbor.
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.affiliation: Michigan Clinical Outcomes Research and Reporting Program, Ann Arbor.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Krallman
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor.
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.affiliation: M-Healthy, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: DuRussel-Weston
authors.affiliation: M-Healthy, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor.
authors.forename: LaVaughn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Palma-Davis
authors.affiliation: Vrije University, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Visser
authors.affiliation: Michigan Clinical Outcomes Research and Reporting Program, Ann Arbor.
authors.forename: Taylor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Eagle
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor.
authors.forename: Kim A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Eagle
authors.affiliation: Michigan Clinical Outcomes Research and Reporting Program, Ann Arbor. Electronic address: evakline@med.umich.edu.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kline-Rogers
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D000072001:Diet, Healthy; D004779:Environment Design; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D000070497:Healthy Lifestyle; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008824:Michigan; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: Adolescent health; Cardiovascular risk; Obesity; Prevention; Program evaluation; School health education