According to the National Council for Health Service, 34 percent of adults are obese. Obesity and health-related disease have increased in Kentucky. In Fayette County, through the federally funded Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), the EFNEP program has been a factor in helping families to change food pattern behaviors to low-income families. The Kentucky State University, Cooperative Extension Program, SKY Families program offers parent education groups to reduce child abuse and neglect. EFNEP has partnered with the SKY Families group to offer nutrition education to families to help change food pattern behaviors.

The SKY Families parent group is a free six-week parent education group and the Fayette County EFNEP assistant teaches seven lessons to participants. Using the approved EFNEP curriculum, the parents learn about the benefits of fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, salt alternatives, calcium and vitamin D, and sugar alternatives. The goal of this program is to promote better eating habits.

Through the 24-hour pre and post food recall, the EFNEP assistant measures the results of the participants. In one of the SKY Families groups from November to December 2018 had an increase in vegetable consumption. The adults in the program increased their vegetable consumption from 3% to 78%. Through nutrition education, parents are able to improve healthier eating behaviors.