Childhood obesity: health and wellness promotion in the pre school population using parents and teachers as role models for healthy living

This is a quality improvement project with an educational intervention to address childhood obesity in Newark, New Jersey. Childhood obesity is a major public health issue affecting approximately 12.7 million children in the United States. Recent statistics indicate that approximately one-third of children in the United States are overweight or obese. Parents and teachers play a significant role in the development of healthy eating and physical activity behaviors among children. However, there is limited evidence regarding the role of teachers and parents as role models for healthy living among children. The purpose of the project was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Let's Go! Maine Program in improving parents and teachers' self-efficacy as role models for healthy living among preschool-aged children. A pre-test/posttest design was used to examine if parents' and teachers' knowledge of healthy eating habits among children increases after the intervention. Results indicate that the Let's Go 5210 Maine program was effective in encouraging healthy living habits in children whose parents and teachers were educated. Statistically significant results indicated that children's fruit and vegetable consumption increased by 3 servings from an average of 1 to 5 servings a day; the number of days children shared dinner and breakfast with the family increased from an 2 to 5 days a week; children stopped eating takeout food on average 2 days a week; and there was a 2hour decline in the time children spent watching TV or playing video games from slightly above 3 and half hours on average to one and half hours after the intervention. Implications: Educating patients, teachers, and service providers in contact with children to serve as role models for the children may contribute greatly to the current childhood obesity strategies.DNPIncludes bibliographical reference