According to the most recent studies of 2011 21% of Kentucky youth ages 2 -17 are considered obese. Greenup Co. has an obesity rate of 31.9%. The obesity rate of Greenup County is higher than the state average. This results in an even higher risk of developing serious chronic diseases. 

In collaboration with Greysbranch Elementary and the Greenup co. Extension services: The Snap- Ed assistant held a ten week series that was provided to the students at Greysbranch Elementary.125 Students Participated in the series. The Snap Ed assistant utilized the Professor Popcorn Curriculum as the basis of the series. The Students participated in hands on learning and received literature about each food group as well as participated in physical activities. The students were also broken up into teams and were given challenges to come up with healthy meal ideas and to explain them to the class. The students were also challenged each week to make a health change as a group effort. The students became very aware of their “un-healthy” habits. All 125 students made a change to making better food choices. The students who participated in the series showed an 85% improvement in two or more food groups, as well as food safety practices.

 One student stated that at the end of the series, he had felt so “tired and uncomfortable for so long, but had made the choice the first week to give up pop and snack cakes, and that he has never had so much energy and just feels better and that he would never drink pop again.”