According to the State of Childhood Obesity website, during the pandemic the national rate of obesity among kids ages 2 to 19 increased to 22.4% in 2020, up from 19.3% in 2019. In Kentucky, 23.8% of youth ages 10 to 17 have obesity, giving Kentucky a ranking of 1 among the 50 states. 

To help educate youth the Meade County Cooperative Extension EFNEP (Expanded Food Nutrition Education Program) assistant partnered with Ekron Elementary and conducted a six-week Organ Wise Program. The curriculum is based on obesity prevention while introducing the “Organ Wise Guys”. The main emphasis of the curriculum is on healthy eating and physical activity. Each lesson included a story and a healthy snack of fruits or vegetables. Some students mentioned they had never tried some of the options before and really liked them. 

Evaluation data showed 95% improved abilities to choose healthier food, 64% used safe food practices more often. Physical activity practices improved by 50%. The teacher asked the EFNEP assistant if she would please plan on bringing the program back next school year for her new students.