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American Public Health Association
133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition
December 10-14, 2005
Philadelphia, PA
APHA 2005
 
3072.4: Monday, December 12, 2005 - Board 7

Abstract #116884

Evaluation of nutrition, physical activity, behavior and lifestyle modification pilot program for obese adolescents

Lynn Ware, RN, BSN and Flavius R. W. Lilly, MPH. Department of Community Health Improvement, Hanover Hospital, 300 Highland Avenue, Hanover, PA 17331, (717) 633-3543, warel@hanoverhospital.org

OBJECTIVE: Assess the effectiveness of a community program coordinated with school districts to promote healthy lifestyles and healthy weight among obese high school adolescents in a rural Pennsylvania community (population 45,000). BACKGROUND: A local community hospital, school district, and YMCA collaborated to develop the program Nutricise-4-Life (N4L) to address the overweight epidemic among youth in the community. The pilot program under investigation occurs during normal school hours and is a supplement to the state curricular physical education requirement. The purpose of N4L is to equip obese and at-risk youth with psychosocial, nutritional and exercise life skills through health education, fitness training, and behavior modification. METHODS: Youth (N=21) were self-identified and expressed interest in N4L through an application process facilitated by their school. Pre- and post-testing measured blood chemistry, Pierre Harris Assessment of quality of life, Lifestyle Assessment Inventory, and physical fitness. RESULTS: Mean reduction of BMI (0.35kg/m2) and body fat composition (0.52%) was modest. Cardiovascular endurance improved as assessed by average five (5) km run time reduction of 2.82 minutes. Muscle endurance improvements were evidenced by increase in abdominal sit-ups (3.89 repetitions/minute) and pushups (9.34 repetitions/minute). Muscle flexibility also showed improvement in shoulder stretch (1.75 inches) and sit and reach (0.27 inches). Knowledge, attitudes and beliefs regarding healthy lifestyles also shifted positively. CONCLUSION: Although N4L program has begun in one local area it represents an intervention that may be adaptable to other communities. Preliminary results indicate that short-term benefits exist in program participation. Longer-term benefits are topic of future study.

Learning Objectives:

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.

Nutrition, Physical Activity and Chronic Disease

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