Body Satisfaction and Health Behaviors in High School Girls: A Grant Proposal to Implement the New Moves Program in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

Adolescent overweight and obesity is an issue of great public health importance and is prevalent in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) high school-age girls. Overweight and obesity has many implications for adolescent girls, from developing chronic diseases to being the target of weight-related teasing. These and other effects often extend into later life, as children who are overweight are more likely to be overweight or obese as adults. Overweight and obese women are at risk for diabetes, heart disease, certain cancers, and other diseases, and likely to face significant weight-related discrimination and even to earn less than normal weight women. 60% of CMS students identify as African American or Hispanic, and they are more likely to be overweight or obese than white students. Body dissatisfaction, associated with negative emotional well-being, unhealthy weight control practices, weight gain, and poor health outcomes, is also widely prevalent in CMS teen girls. With New Moves Charlotte-Mecklenburg, CMS aims to prevent a variety of problems associated with weight in at-risk and disadvantaged adolescent girls attending high schools in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. Such problems include overweight and obesity as well as disordered eating and eating disorders. The New Moves program targets an increase in healthy eating and an increase in physical activity among participating students. By promoting body satisfaction and healthy lifestyles, New Moves' long-term objectives are to prevent overweight and obesity as well as eating disorders. New Moves is a theory-based, experimentally-tested intervention that has been proven to effectively promote healthy eating and physical activity through an alternative, all-girls physical education (PE) program. In the first two quarters of the school year, participating girls at each high school will attend the New Moves class. Each week, they will have four physical activity classes taught by trained PE teachers and community guest fitness instructors and one class on either nutrition topics or self-empowerment topics, as designated by the New Moves curriculum. In the second two quarters, participating girls will attend a weekly session during the lunch period with their cohort and PE teacher for a healthy lunch, informal discussion on health and wellness-related topics, and social support. Individual counseling sessions, a parent/guardian outreach component, and community collaborations further enhance the program. CMS is requesting a total budget of $190,886 for the 24-month grant period in order to launch the New Moves program at our high schools and integrate it into existing services to better promote and protect the health and well-being of adolescent girls.Master of Public Healt