Success StoryChildhood Obesity in Kentucky
Childhood Obesity in Kentucky
Author: Robin Burton
Planning Unit: Grayson County CES
Major Program: Nutrition and Food Systems General
Outcome: Long-Term Outcome
Childhood Obesity in Kentucky
“In Kentucky, 24.0% of youth ages 10 to 17 have obesity, giving Kentucky a ranking of 50 among the 50 states and D.C., https://stateofchildhoodobesity.org/state-data/?state=ky..” This article also states that 24% of children between the ages of 10-17 are overweight.
Supplying students with more information about what it means to eat healthy food, how it can impact their health and wellbeing into their adulthood is a subject that needs to be highlighted more. And that is exactly what the Nutrition Education Program does.
Recently the NEP Assistant in Grayson County, KY taught 3 fifth grade classrooms, with a total of seventy-three students, a series of six classes using the Professor Popcorn curriculum. This curriculum focuses on healthy snacks, trying new foods and being more physically active.
Students were given a pre and post test to gain insight into their eating and activity habits.
After the series was completed, 55% of students reported drinking less soda and sports drinks. 60% reported eating more vegetables as snacks; 39 % reported tasting more new foods; and 65% reported being more active and having less screen time.
As you can see, the Nutrition Education Program continues to changes the lives of the students in Grayson.
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