Wise Mind: An Environmental Approach for Health Promotion in Elementary School Children Funding provided by NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DIABETES AND DIGESTIVE AND KIDNEY DISEASES/NIH September 2002 – July 2005 This two-year pilot study used an environmental approach to prevent unhealthy behavior in children who are in grades 2 through 6 and in their parents. Two approaches are used within participating schools to determine which is most effective for the prevention of unhealthy weight gain: (1) “Wise Mind for Diet and Physical Activity,” and (2) "Wise Mind for Avoidance of Alcohol, Drugs, and Tobacco.” Innovative elements of the Wise Mind approach for obesity prevention include an interactive internet-based health information program for families, cafeteria menu modification with special “Wise Mind” foods, and classroom curricula targeting health habits. Approximately 750 Louisiana students enrolled in the Wise Mind program. The findings of the study will have significant impact upon public health policy regarding the prevention of obesity. |
Related Publications:
Anton, S. D., Han, H., Newton, R. L., Jr., Martin, C. K., York-Crowe, E., Stewart, T. M., et al. (2006). Reformulation of the Children's Eating Attitudes Test (ChEAT): factor structure and scoring method in a non-clinical population. Eating and Weight Disorders, 11(4), 201-210. PubMed
Copeland, A. L., Diefendorff, J. M., Kendzor, D. E., Rash, C. J., Businelle, M. S., Patterson, S. M., et al. (2007). Measurement of smoking outcome expectancies in children: the Smoking Consequences Questionnaire-Child. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 21(4), 469-477. PubMed
Kendzor, D. E., Copeland, A. L., Stewart, T. M., Businelle, M. S., & Williamson, D. A. (2007). Weight-related concerns associated with smoking in young children. Addictive Behaviors, 32(3), 598-607. PubMed
Martin, C. K., Newton, R. L., Jr., Anton, S. D., Allen, H. R., Alfonso, A., Han, H., et al. (2007). Measurement of children's food intake with digital photography and the effects of second servings upon food intake. Eating Behaviors, 8(2), 148-156. PubMed
Newton, R. L., Jr., Han, H., Anton, S. D., Martin, C. K., Stewart, T. M., Lewis, L., et al. (2010). An environmental intervention to prevent excess weight gain in African-American students: a pilot study. American Journal of Health Promotion, 24(5), 340-343. PubMed
Williamson, D. A., Copeland, A. L., Anton, S. D., Champagne, C., Han, H., Lewis, L., et al. (2007). Wise Mind project: a school-based environmental approach for preventing weight gain in children. Obesity, 15(4), 906-917. PubMed