~~The Influence of a Doll

According to the CDC Obesity Prevalence Map in 2015, Kentucky’s obesity rate was between 30% - 35% of the state’s population.  This high percentage may lead to high rate of the chronic diseases in the state.  It is important to start with the younger population to reduce this high percentage of obesity and disease in Kentucky. 

The Organ Annie and the Organ Wise Guys were utilized by the SNAP-Ed program in Boyd County to teach children about proper nutrition, healthy eating, and physical activity.  A total of 269 Kindergarten students participated.  By the third lesson, all students knew the Organ Wise Guys, what each organ does in their bodies, and how healthy eating and physical activity can benefit each organ. 

One grandmother recently picked up her five-year-old granddaughter from daycare.  When the grandmother asked the child what she had for lunch, the young girl responded “protein, grains, and dairy”.  When the grandmother asked the child how she knew about these things, the granddaughter’s response was “Organ Annie told us about the food groups, what each one means and how they help our body.”

 Another parent stated that her son came home every Friday talking about Organ Annie and that school was no longer boring.  He also taught his mother to do the “Hardy Heart Pump-Up” physical activity and they do this activity every night as a family.

One young girl stated that she ate less Halloween candy and gave the rest of the candy away because Organ Annie along with Peter Pancreas had said it was bad for her.

As a result of these programs, 72 % of children increased their ability to identify healthy snacks, 81% increased their ability to identify vegetables, and 88% increased their knowledge of dairy foods.