Recorded presentation

Gillian Howey Kimura, MPH, Office on Women's Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 200 Independence Ave, SW, Room 713E, Washington, DC 20201, 202-401-1170, ghkimura@osophs.dhhs.gov and Mary Lou Rife, PhD, Rife Communications, 2948 Northhampton St., NW, Washington, DC 20015.

The BodyWorks toolkit, for parents and caregivers of adolescent girls, promotes healthy eating and increased physical activity. Sixteen focus groups were conducted around the country with diverse groups of middle-school girls, parents, and school nurses to identify 1) current practices and challenges to achieving and maintaining healthy weight; 2) knowledge and tools needed for positive behavior change; and 3) types of information and skills desired to effect change. A toolkit was developed in response to the initial focus groups, tested with three consumer groups, and modified to address feedback. The kit includes: an owner’s guide, food and activity journal, menu-planning refrigerator magnet, recipe book, quiz and recipe cards, a DVD, and a group discussion guide. The toolkit also contains an environmental checklist for families to evaluate the needs of their home, school, and community to support healthy weight. The toolkits will be distributed nationally through a community-based “train the trainer” model in which facilitators will be encouraged to schedule regular discussion support groups. Although developed for adolescent girls and their mothers, the toolkit is adaptable for use by the entire family.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Understand the importance of and process for consumer research activities that serve as a basis for toolkit development.
• Describe key messages from the toolkit for families to promote healthy weight through better nutrition and physical activity for adolescent girls.
• Describe a national distribution strategy that uses private and public sector partners to reach families at the community level.
• To learn how to participate in the distribution of the toolkit.
• To communicate the role of graphic design in a toolkit for girls and parents.

Keywords: Adolescent Health, Obesity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office on Women's Health
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation