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An Outcome and Follow-up Evaluation of ‘Food Fit’: A Theory Based Childhood Overweight Prevention Curriculum

Warner, Julie Anne
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1243963290

Abstract Details

2009, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Human Nutrition and Food Management.
Over the past 30 years, the prevalence of childhood overweight has more than tripled in the United States. In the past, interventions aimed at improving children’s eating behavior have had mixed results. These modest results may be due to limitations in program design, implementation, or evaluation. ‘Food Fit’ (FF) is a 14 week theoretically based nutrition behavior change program designed to overcome limitations in previous interventions and promote behaviors associated with obesity prevention. Food Fit was developed using Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) as a theoretical framework. The purpose of this study is to evaluate Food Fit’s impact on the SCT psychosocial constructs of behavioral capability (BC), self-efficacy (SE), and outcome expectancy (OE). While outcomes for children from middle-income communities who participated in FF have been favorable, FF has not been implemented with children from low-income communities. During the 2007-2008 school year FF was implemented at seven low-income after-school programs in Columbus, Ohio where the prevalence of obesity is higher than both the national averages and averages for the state of Ohio. One hundred eight children were enrolled in FF. Topics for the lessons included choosing lower calorie snack foods, choosing beverages without added sugars, and learning serving sizes. Pre-and post-tests were administered at each lesson to evaluate changes in BC, SE, and OE. A standardized instrument (Child Modified Food Behavior Checklist) was administered before, during, and after the program to evaluate dietary behaviors. Process evaluations were used to assure program integrity. Significant increases in behavioral capability were found for eleven of the fourteen lessons (overall p<.001). Significant dietary changes included: eat more than one type of vegetable per day (p=.003), eat more than two servings of vegetables per day (p=.019), and consume raw vegetables for snacks (p<.019). Compared to the previous study, which took place in a middle income group, this group had fewer self-reported changes in confidence (SE) and desire (OE) to use the skills discussed during the lessons. There was a significant increase in SE for only two of the fourteen lessons, and there were no increases in OE. A positive effect was found for all three constructs; BC had a medium effect size (.49) while SE and OE were considerably smaller (.15 and .10 respectively). Food Fit is very effective at impacting children’s behavioral capabilities, but less effective at impacting SE and OE in this low-income group. Reasons for the differences between the socioeconomic groups necessitate further investigation to assess the impact of poverty on children’s dietary behaviors.
Gail Kaye (Advisor)
Carla Miller (Committee Member)
Robert Murray (Committee Member)
Paul Branscum (Committee Member)
109 p.
Nutrition
Nutrition education; behavior change; Social Cognitive Theory; Children; Overweight; Dietary behavior

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Warner, J. A. (2009). An Outcome and Follow-up Evaluation of ‘Food Fit’: A Theory Based Childhood Overweight Prevention Curriculum [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1243963290

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Warner, Julie. An Outcome and Follow-up Evaluation of ‘Food Fit’: A Theory Based Childhood Overweight Prevention Curriculum. 2009. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1243963290.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Warner, Julie. "An Outcome and Follow-up Evaluation of ‘Food Fit’: A Theory Based Childhood Overweight Prevention Curriculum." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1243963290

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1243963290
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© 2009, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.