Abstract 139: Middle School-based Intervention Leads to Improved Behaviors: A Report from Project Healthy Schools

Abstract

Background: Project Healthy Schools (PHS) provides environmental changes and in-class lessons to sixth grade students to reduce future cardiovascular and diabetes risk. PHS has 5 main goals: (1) decrease mindless screen time, (2) exercise 150 minutes/week, (3) decrease unhealthy beverages, (4) increase fruits and vegetables and (5) decrease fried, fatty and sweet foods. Previous research demonstrated the program’s impact on total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein, and blood pressure. Methods: Baseline and follow up behavioral survey data was collected from 2130 sixth grade students, including: 24-hour food and 7-day physical activity recalls; compared using non-parametric Wilcoxon signed rank test. The behaviors were defined as follows: “screen time” as hours/week on computers, video games or TVs not for school; “exercise” as sessions/week of moderate for 30 minutes, vigorous for 20 minutes; servings of “unhealthy beverages” as soda, sports drinks or punch (not juice); “fruits and vegetables” as any fruits or vegetables (not fries, chips or juice) and “fried, fatty and sweet food” as any fried meat, hamburger, hot dogs, sausage, bacon, ribs, fries, chips, baked goods or candy. Results: Students improved on follow-up in 3 of 5 goals: decrease screen time (p≤.001), increase exercise (p=0.02) and decrease fried, fatty and sweet foods (p≤.001). Fruits, vegetables and beverages showed almost no net change. Conclusions: Improvements in 3 of 5 goals combined with previous physiologic findings suggest the program is effectively teaching healthy behaviors, but further research is required to improve all lessons, especially those including fruits, vegetables and beverages.