Improving Families' Nutrition Knowledge through Service Learning

Current research documents an increasing prevalence of pediatric obesity in the United States. Effective nutrition education programs are needed to affect this trend. This study pre-tested and post-tested kindergarten students and their families to evaluate the impact of a service learning nutrition education program. Changes in nutrition knowledge and home environment among kindergarten students and their parents who participated in a nutrition education program (treatment group) were compared with those who did not participate in the program (control group). The nutrition education program was developed and delivered by senior nutrition majors at an accredited 4-year university. Responses from a total of 156 parents and kindergarten children (treatment n = 79, control n = 77) out of 205 total kindergarten families (76% response rate) were analyzed to compare changes in knowledge and home environment. Results indicate an increase in the kindergarten children's knowledge and a decrease in the family's home obesigenic risk. These results provide support for the use of service learning to provide age-appropriate nutrition education programs to benefit the entire family. J Allied Health 2011; 40(4):194-198 PEDIATRIC OBESITY has reached epidemic proportions in the United States, and the incidence of pediatric obesity is increasing.1-4 The prevalence of adult overweight and obesity in the United States has resulted in an increase in weight-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, and certain cancers.5 Children who are overweight or obese have an increased risk of developing high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease.6 An American Dietetic Association position statement addressed providing nutrition education to promote growth and development in children.7 According to this statement, nutrition education should be provided to children and their parents or caregivers with a focus on the link between nutrition and health. Despite considerable efforts, few approaches have been shown to be effective in treating or preventing pediatric overweight and obesity. The increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity in youth presents a huge public health challenge, since overweight youth are more likely to become overweight adults. Public elementary schools are a logical site to address obesity, but utilizing public schools for this effort has supporters and detractors. According to Pyle and colleagues,8 schools contain a "captive audience," since this is where most American children spend the majority of their days. School-based programs should be designed to promote a healthy weight through nutritious food choices, physical activity, and behavior management that starts at preschool and involves families.8 Various reasons are given by those opposed to addressing obesity in the public school setting including lack of understanding or conflicting information provided by the school and their healthcare provider and a feeling that the school is "meddling" in family business.9,10 Supporters view schools as being in the business of education, and the concepts of leading by example in providing healthy snacks, nutritious school food, avoidance of fundraisers related to sales of nonnutritious items, and physical activity are upheld in the literature.7,11 If teachers and administrators view pediatric obesity as an important issue, support a healthy school environment, and model healthy behaviors, noticeable positive change can occur.12 Studies show varying degrees of effectiveness of schoolbased programs in certain areas, such as increasing nutrition knowledge, reducing adiposity, and improving physical -activity and healthy behaviors.13-15 Less is known about why certain programs are more effective than other programs in increasing nutrition knowledge, physical activity, and health status. Understanding the impact of community collaboration to meet educational needs will help educators and program planners utilize community resources and develop effective programs. …