Food intake, physical activity and BMI status of youth enrolled in a competitive, creative, problem solving program

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine if children who participate in a competitive, creative, problem‐solving program differ in BMI, food intake, and physical activity levels when compared to a nationally representative sample. Participants were a sample of high school‐aged youth that competed in the 2008 Destination ImagiNation® (DI) Global Finals (n=668). Height and weight measures were collected and a survey based on the Youth Risk Behavioral Survey was administered to participants. Based on the CDC age and gender BMI classifications, 1.8% of participants were underweight, 69.2% had a healthy weight, 17.7% were overweight, and 11.4% were obese. Further, 31.5% reported consuming fruits and vegetables >5 times/day, 21.9% reported drinking milk >3 times/day, 26.9% reported drinking soft drinks >1 times/day, 48.0% were physically active for at least 60 minutes/day on >5 days during the week, 14.3% reported watching >3 hours of TV on an average school day, and 15.8% reported using computers >3 hours on an average school day. Thus, compared to the 2007 Youth Risk Behavioral Surveillance data, the youth surveyed at the DI Global Finals reported overall a higher intake of fruits, vegetables and milk, a lower intake of soft drinks, less TV or computer use and a higher level of physical activity, suggesting overall healthier practices in youth participating in this creative team‐based program.