Training Staff of Afterschool Programs on Healthy Eating and Physical Activity: Opportunity to Reduce Childhood Obesity

Escalating obesity rates among children across the nation has prompted interest in investigating the role of afterschool programs in the promotion of healthy eating and physical activity among participating children. This approach facilitates intervention programs that will be supported in daily routines of staff. Children need positive role models; the work could be a challenging process and will require staff willingness and assistance.

Parents Attending a Family Weight Management Program Perceive Similar Home Fruit and Vegetable Accessibility, but Greater Child Proxy Agency and Physical Activity Opportunity

Many children do not meet current guidelines for physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption, two areas of health-related behavior with links to obesity. Objective: To examine child and parent perceptions of child proxy agency, home physical activity opportunity, and home accessibility of fruits and vegetables. Methods: Dyads (N = 117) of parents and children completed questionnaires for this cross-sectional study. Results: For child proxy agency, fruits and vegetables accessibility, and physical activity opportunity, the parent and child perceptions were significantly related. Parent ratings of physical activity opportunity and child proxy agency were significantly greater than child ratings. Perceptions of both parents and children for proxy agency were associated with fruits and vegetables accessibility and physical activity opportunity. Conclusions: Parents and children hold similar, yet distinct perceptions of physical activity opportunity and child proxy agency. Perceptions of child proxy agency are associated with obesity-related home environmental characteristics.

Physical Activity Opportunity in K-12 Public School Settings: Nevada

Objectives:We examined the status of physical activity opportunity in Nevada K-12 public schools. The focus was on determining both prevalence and nature of existing programs as well as school administrators’ perceived barriers to offering physical activity programs.Methods:A 15 item questionnaire was used to assess prevalence and nature of programs as well as perceived barriers.Results:Nevada school-age children do not have regular access to physical education. Excluding physical education, more than 30% of schools do not provide physical activity programming. Most existing programs are competitive sport related. In addition, as students matriculate through school, fewer program options and opportunities to participate throughout the school day are available. Lack of funds was the most frequently reported perceived barrier to offering physical activity programs.Conclusions:Opportunities to be physically active over the course of the school day are limited and as a result, hinder important national objectives for health-related outcomes.