“Got Health” Wellness Program

Overweight and obesity are of epidemic proportion and are risk factors for chronic diseases. The percentage of overweight and obese adults in Winnebago County mirrors the state average at 37.4% and 22.7% respectively. Children’s weights continue to rise with research showing that 70 to 80 percent of overweight children remain overweight or become obese adults. The Forest City Community School Elementary nurse reported that 3 out of 186 second and third grade youth were at or over 200 pounds.

The Forest City Nutrition Coalition with funding from the Wellmark Foundation conducted “Pick A Better Snack” nutrition program with second and third graders in the Forest City School. The goal is for youth to adopt healthy habits they will use throughout life as they are at an impressionable age & beginning to make their own food choices. “Pick a Better Snack” bingo card activity, taste testing fruits and vegetables featured that month and nutrition discussions in the class room plus distributing the monthly parent newsletter all took place from November through May. A project display and blood pressure screening for youth and adults took place in November at parent teacher conferences. The YMCA Program Director, began in January, implementing additional movement exercise and games during the P.E. time. Sweet potato races, cha cha slide movements, tinikling were just a few of the monthly activities. In January the art teacher assisted with a poster contest illustrating the “Got Health” theme. A poster was selected & placed on t-shirts for the class

The 2nd and 3rd graders (186) were surveyed prior to the project in October and then in April. 79% of the students reported they had increased the amount of fruits and vegetables eaten since the “Got Health” project started. The survey asked how many servings of fruits and vegetables they eat daily and there was a definite increase in servings. Comparing responses from October to April in percentage of youth eating specific numbers of servings included:

The survey shows a decrease in the lower number of servings and a definite increase in the four to five daily servings of fruits and vegetables.

91% of the youth indicated they were more active since participating in the project. In the October survey students listed 17 different activities they enjoy doing, while in April the students listed 22 different activities. 56% of the students indicated family exercise time had increased.

The return rate of the bingo cards ranged from 32 to 43 percent monthly. The Nutrition team was very pleased with the response; the teachers had indicated that a typical return rate is 10%. The bingo cards were distributed the last Friday of the month and fairly consistently the following Monday 2 or 3 students returned the completed bingo card. The activity based incentives were a great motivator.

The enthusiasm of the students was evident during the taste testing visits & the teachers were very supportive. One teacher commented at each month on how wonderful the project was. She also indicated that in the lunch line students would remind each other when a specific fruit or vegetable was being served that was on the bingo card. The Elementary Principal commented, “The students learned more about nutrition and how well it affects their lives. The taste testing opened up their perspective to new items they had not eaten before. I was introduced to a couple items I had not tried before.”

A mother commented,” I feel that the “Got Health” program did a great job of getting our daughter Julia to think more carefully about her food choices. She really looked forward to trying the new foods, and filling out the bingo card was a fun way for her to try them at home too. She always remembered to work on getting the card filled in and made sure she brought it back to school to get the “prize” for that month. The suggested activities on the bingo card were things she had fun doing, which helped her to see that exercise can be enjoyable. As a parent, having her involved in the program gave us extra support in reminding her to think about her food choices. It made all of us more aware of the food choices we sometimes forget about! When she wanted a snack, and I asked her to find something healthy, she didn’t complain about that as much as she used to. I think the program really made her understand what healthy choices are, and gave her many options to choose from by expanding her experience with different types of food. The “Got Health” program was a positive experience in our home this school year!”

Contact:
Carol Peterson
Winnebago County Extension Education Director
183 First Avenue North
P.O. Box 47
Thompson, IA 50478
Phone 641-584-2261; Fax 641-584-2267
Email carolp@iastate.edu