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American Public Health Association
133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition
December 10-14, 2005
Philadelphia, PA
APHA 2005
 
3072.3: Monday, December 12, 2005 - Board 8

Abstract #112936

Nutrition and physical activity policies and practices in out-of-school programs

Josefine Wendel, MS, RD1, Susan Richards2, Susan Breen, MS, RN1, and Virginia R. Chomitz, PhD3. (1) School Health, Cambridge Public Health Department, 119 Windsor Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, 617-665-3852, JWendel@challiance.org, (2) Agenda for Children, Department of Human Service Programs, 51 Inman Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, (3) Institute for Community Health, 119 Windsor St., Ground Level, Cambridge, MA 02139

Schools and out-of-school programs play an important part in shaping children's eating and activity behaviors. With many children spending a large part of their waking hours in group settings, providing healthy foods and the opportunity to be active should be a shared responsibility between schools, out-of-school programs and the family.

In Cambridge, Massachusetts, approximately 40% of 4000 public school children in grades K-8 are overweight or at risk of overweight and about 70% have inadequate fitness test results.

Policy, education and intervention efforts are currently in process in the school setting, but efforts to address the out-of-school environment have been limited. To assess current nutrition and physical activity policies and practices in out-of-school programs, Massachusetts, we designed and administered a survey to 42 programs that are part of the Agenda for Children Out of School Time Initiative. These programs combined serve about 1500 children of predominantly lower-income families.

The goal of the survey was to identify areas of strength and aspects in need of development. The survey was distributed via email to all programs. Survey questions included quantitative and qualitative items. The following program aspects were assessed: Food & beverages: choices, resources, structure and policies; program activities offering physical activity and nutrition education; program policies regarding incorporating physical activity and nutrition education for individual children and groups.

This presentation will present key survey findings and the nutrition and physical activity self-assessment tool for out-of-school programs developed based on survey results.

Learning Objectives:

  • At the conclusion of the session, each participant will be able to

    Keywords: Children, Nutrition

    Presenting author's disclosure statement:

    I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

    Child Nutrition and Physical Activity At and Away from School

    The 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition (December 10-14, 2005) of APHA