Adoption and Long-Term Outcomes of the Integrated Nutrition and Physical Activity Program

University of Colorado: Rocky Mountain Prevention Research Center

Topics:
Nutrition & Physical Activity for Youth | Obesity & Overweight

Researchers are evaluating a classroom health promotion program to find out whether participants are maintaining the changes they made after 1–5 years, and whether teachers are still offering the classes. The Integrated Nutrition and Physical Activity Program (INPAP), developed by the center, includes 28 lessons about nutrition and physical activity (see Improving Health Among Residents in Colorado’s San Luis Valley). In 2000, 2nd and 3rd grade teachers in a rural Colorado elementary school used INPAP lessons to teach their students about the importance of eating fruits and vegetables and being physically active. Researchers are comparing these students’ knowledge, attitudes, and behavior regarding nutrition and physical activity at 1–5 years later, with those of children who did not receive INPAP. Comparison measures include the children’s knowledge of dietary and physical activity guidelines; their attitudes—such as their preferences for healthy or unhealthy snacks and the benefits they expect from exercising; the daily amount of fruits and vegetables they eat and physical activity they do; and their height and weight.

The center is also conducting surveys and case studies to find out how many teachers still offer the program, how many and which lessons they teach, and what they like and do not like about the lessons. They are also asking teachers how they integrate the lessons into the standard curriculum, what factors affect teachers’ continued use of the program, and what environmental or other factors affect other teachers’ use. The center continues to answer teachers’ questions, distribute a newsletter with information about INPAP, and help teachers secure additional funding for the program.

 

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