Evaluation of the Planet Health Intervention in an Indiana Middle School

Abstract

The Planet Health program is a middle school intervention that promotes low fat eating, increased fruit and vegetable intake, increased physical activity (PA) and reduced TV and video viewing. To evaluate the impact of this program on a Marion County (metropolitan-area) middle school, the School Physical Activity and Nutrition questionnaire was administered to students prior to and post delivery of the intervention program in both a test (I) school (N=509) and a similar “control” (C) school (N=124) and analyzed using Chi square and independent t-tests, α=0.05. Ethnicity and proportion of students at risk for or overweight (high BMI) at both schools were similar (predominant ethnicity Black 43 (I) vs 49% (C); high BMI 41.7% (I) vs 43.7% (C). There were no differences in self-reported food intake, PA and screen time prior to the intervention. Post intervention, 7th and 8th grade I school students reported reduced fat and soda intake, and lower screen time compared to C students. Decreased fat intake was noted from changes in type of milk consumed, e.g., more I students chose low or reduced fat milk, 91% (I) vs 35% (C) for 7th, and 87% (I) vs 36% (C) in 8thgraders, p<.001. Percent of students reporting >1 soda daily was 36 (I) vs 60 (C) for 7th and 37 vs 61 for 8thgraders, p<.001. More I students met the program goal of ‘< 2 hours of screen time/day’ than C (77 vs 55% of 7thand 76 vs 37% of 8thgraders, p<.001). There was no impact of the fruit/vegetable or physical activity promotion in either grade. Funded in part by the Health and Hospital Corp. of Marion County