LEAPing into Healthy Futures

Childhood obesity is a serious problem in the United States, according to the Center for Disease Control’s website the prevalence of obesity among youth ages 2-19 is 18.5%.  Kentucky’s childhood obesity rates is slightly higher at 20.8% as reported by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services.  In an effort to combat this rising trend, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) assistant in Muhlenberg County Kentucky partnered with three of the Muhlenberg county elementary schools to present the LEAP, literacy, eating, activity, for primary program to all of the Kindergarten and First Grade students in Central City Elementary, Greenville Elementary, and Longest Elementary.

The LEAP program was presented weekly in each classroom for six weeks.  The LEAP program consisted of reading an age appropriate story with a healthy message, playing games and doing activities to reinforce the story’s healthy message, and lastly sampling the healthy snack introduces in the story.  The students also gained knowledge in proper hand washing techniques, good dental hygiene, and increasing their physical activity.    

319 students at the three schools completed all six hours of instruction.  Upon completion of the program 95% of the youth made improvements in one or more areas of the evaluation.  85% of the youth demonstrated knowledge to choose foods consistent with Federal Dietary Guidelines.

Making an effort to reach youth at this young age and focus on healthy eating habits and increased physical activity can make a positive impact of reducing the childhood obesity rate in Kentucky.