According to the most recent studies 33.5% of Kentucky youth ages 2-17 are considered obese. Muhlenberg County has a youth obesity rate of 37%, slightly higher than the state average. Obesity often results in an even higher risk of developing serious chronic diseases.

In collaboration with the Muhlenberg County Public School system the Family and Consumer Sciences Agent and the SNAP-Ed Nutrition Education Program Assistant partnered together to address the childhood obesity problem in Muhlenberg County with LEAP(Literacy, Eating and Activity for Primary). The LEAP program was taught to all Kindergarten and First Grade students in the county school system. 501 students participated and 94% of the students showed improvements in 1 or more core areas. The core areas taught in LEAP are being active, recognizing healthy snacks, recognizing different food groups, and hand washing.

The students gained knowledge through reading a story with a healthy message that promotes healthy choices, activities that reinforce the healthy message from the story, and finally making their own healthy snack and trying new foods. 

LEAP newsletters were distributed weekly to students and they were encouraged to take them home and tell their families about the healthy choices they had learned in class and about the delicious snacks they had tried. One kindergarten student stated, “I never knew I could make my own snacks.”