According to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Kentucky has one of the highest prevalence for pediatric obesity in the nation.  Approximately 37% of Kentucky children ages 10-17 years are considered overweight or obese according to BMI-for-age standards. Half of Kentucky’s children in poor families are overweight or obese. In the Mammoth Cave Area, the incidence rates for adult and youth overweight and obesity, are above the national average. 

Studies have shown that youth and adults are more likely to try healthy foods when presented with a fun, participatory group activity like the LEAP program.  Literacy Eating and Activity for Youth is offered by Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agents, in 7 Mammoth Cave Area Counties including Barren, Hart, Logan, Metcalfe, Monroe, Simpson and Warren. During the current program year, MCAFCS Agents in conjunction with twenty- four community partner volunteers, provided ninety-eight sessions of LEAP with participation of one thousand five hundred thirty seven youth.  Families of youth participants receive UKFCS nutrition and food preparation information, to help improve their quality of life. Evaluation data across the Mammoth Cave Area, show that roughly ninety-six percent of youth who participate in LEAP, are more open to trying new foods, fruit and/or vegetables.

To address this issue of childhood obesity in Logan County, the Logan County Cooperative Extension Family and Consumer Sciences and 4-H Youth Development Agents as well as the Logan County SNAP program assistant partnered together with the county preschool and kindergarten programs to provide the Literacy, Eating and Activity for Primary (LEAP) program.  The agents and assistant were able to go into the classrooms and read a story and provide a healthy snack related to the storybook to each child.   

The LEAP program was delivered to a total of 236 youth in Logan County.   According to surveys, all students enjoyed the storybooks and most students sampled the accompanying snacks.   Several of the students indicated that they were tasting foods for the first time.  All students also learned the importance of taking a "hello bite" and by the end of the program indicated understanding of what that was.  Teachers indicated much appreciation for coming and sharing the books and accompanying snacks with the students.