OA10.02
Purpose: Over the past three decades, the prevalence of childhood obesity has tripled among children in the United States. Behaviors associated with the prevention of childhood obesity have been identified, but finding appropriate avenues for teaching children these behaviors has proven challenging. A classroom-based DVD curriculum, Fuel for Learning (FFL), was designed to address obesity and stress behaviors.
Methods: A quasi-experimental non-equivalent wait-list control group design was used in six 3rd grade elementary school classrooms in two schools: treatment (n=82), control wait-list (n=80). The FFL curriculum consisted of 50 minutes of mindfulness-based movement and appreciative inquiry exercises/week, and 35 minutes of nutrition instruction/week, delivered via DVD with the classroom teacher as facilitator. Psychosocial stress-related classroom behaviors and self-efficacy regarding dietary behavior were evaluated pre and post the 8-week intervention. Overall change scores for intervention and control wait-list groups were compared using a multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) to account for variance in school, classroom, and intervention. Classroom behavior (Connor's Behavioral Checklist – Self Report and Teacher Scale) was used to gauge behavioral changes impacted by stress.
Results: Significant differences were found in teacher–rated classroom behavior concerning the children's inattention (p=0.023) while the child-rated scale showed changes in classroom hyperactivity behavior (p=0.045), in addition to the child reported changes in self-efficacy concerning dietary behavior (p=0.020) for the intervention group only.
Conclusion: This pilot study of FFL indicates the intervention's potential as a pragmatic approach to deliver stress reduction strategies related to behaviors involved to academic achievement (hyperactivity and inattention) and to psychosocial factors important to obesity prevention, self-efficacy. Both teachers and students noted significant classroom behavioral differences. FFL may be an effective classroom intervention that effectively addresses the community need of obesity and stress prevention. The DVD format of FFL increases the dissemination potential of introducing these important psychosocial skills.
Contact: Maryanna Klatt, maryanna.klatt@osumc.edu
