According to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Kentucky has one of the highest prevalence for pediatric obesity in the nation.  Approximately 38% of Kentucky children ages 10-17 years are considered overweight or obese according to BMI-for-age standards. Half of Kentucky’s children in poor families are overweight or obese. According to the 2006 Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance System, 35.3% children ages 0-4 years in Kentucky are overweight or obese. 

To address this issue of childhood obesity, the Logan County Cooperative Extension Family and Consumer Sciences and 4-H Youth Development Agents partnered together with all of the county preschool programs to provide programming materials for the Literacy, Eating and Activity for Primary (LEAP) program for every preschool student in the county.  Due to pandemic restrictions and not being able to present programs in person, the agents provided video recordings of the book readings as well as a nutritious, pre-packaged snack to accompany each of the book lessons to each teacher to facilitate each of the lessons.  

The LEAP program was delivered to a total of 205 youth in six elementary schools in Logan County.   According to surveys, all students enjoyed the book video read alouds and most students sampled the accompanying snacks.  Follow up comments received from teachers that facilitated the program included, “Just wanted to let you know that our kids are thoroughly enjoying the LEAP activities.  Yesterday we watched the “Count on Pablo” book read aloud, and then snacked on the chips and salsa.  Many of the students did not want to taste the chips and salsa.  I told them that Pablo made it and sent it to us, himself.   The students were over-joyed and all of the students took a “no-thank you” bite.  All except two students loved the salsa.  It was a lot of fun and we really appreciate the opportunity to partake in these activities!”