According to a survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control, Kentucky is the least physically active state in the nation. The risk factors of poor nutrition and physical inactivity begin early in life.  The Bogalusa Heart Study indicated that children as young as 2 years old were already consuming a high-fat, high-sodium, and low-fiber diet.   Furthermore, the percentage of children and adolescents who are overweight has more than doubled in the past 30 years.

The principal at Louisa West Elementary contacted the Lawrence County Extension Office wanting the Expanded Food Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) Assistant to implement LEAP with the Kindergarten and 1^st grades.  The EFNEP Assistant enrolled 142 students.

The LEAP program consisted of a pre-assessment to learn of existing knowledge then six lessons using storybooks on health or nutrition to teach and reinforce healthy behaviors. In each lesson the students would listen to a storybook, participate in an activity and then be rewarded with a healthy snack pertaining to the story that was read. After each lesson, parents received a newsletter with tips for family health and fun nutritious recipes. Following a post-assessment, behavioral improvements were as follows: 58% improved in their responses improving their abilities to choose foods according to Federal Dietary Recommendations, 28% showed they use safe food handling practices more often, 23% improved in their responses of physical activities, and 36% could identify between fruits and vegetables.