Impact of Body Quest: Food of the Warrior on Key Indicators for Childhood Obesity Prevention

Strategies to combat childhood obesity are a top public health priority as overweight and obesity rates in children have risen to alarming rates over the past two decades. Overweight and obese children are at greater risk for many adult on-set diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and bone and joint problems, as well as adult obesity. Determining effective childhood obesity prevention initiatives is one step toward combating early on-set of disease and reversing these staggering statistics in children. Body Quest is an initiative developed to combat childhood obesity in a SNAP-Ed eligible, thirdgrade population. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the BQ curriculum on behaviors and intentions related to obesity prevention measures in 3,568 third-grade students. Students were randomized into treatment (BQ education) or control. Treatment students were exposed to vegetables bi-weekly during the 17-week BQ curriculum.Treatment students reported significant improvements,compared to control students (p<0.001), on five key indicators related to accepted obesity prevention initiatives: increasing fruit and vegetable intake, physical activity and breakfast consumption; as well as reducing screen time and sugar sweetened beverages. These outcomes add to the evidence that educationally appropriate, engaging programs, targeted to children can positively impact several key indicators to assist with obesity prevention efforts.