Initiative Description: The intervention program included monthly family events that alternated between nutrition and physical activities/contests. Focus groups were held with community residents prior to initiating a program to obtain their input on treatment activities that would complement the community’s activities. Rather than applying a prearranged program, the events were designed to coincide with community activities. At the conclusion of 8 months, a postassessment of the same variables assessed at baseline was conducted.

Study Results: The intervention school showed a statistically significant decline in percentage body fat, whereas the control school children’s percentage body fat remained fairly stable, F(1,449) = 5.56, P = 0.02). The intervention school reported engaging in significantly more physical activities from baseline to postintervention whereas the control school reported a decline in physical activities, F(1,449) = 4.56, P = 0.04) The intervention school also showed improvement in their dietary fat intake compared to the control school. The children from the intervention school also showed statistically significant improvement in their performance on two of the three fitness tests.

Reference: Greening, L., Harrell, K. T., Low, A. K., & Fielder, C. E. (2011). Efficacy of a School-Based Childhood Obesity Intervention Program in a Rural Southern Community: TEAM Mississippi Project. Obesity,19(6), 1213-1219. doi:10.1038/oby.2010.329

Level of Evidence: Good