A Policy and Environmental Response to Overweight in Childhood: The Impact of Gold Medal Schools

Details

• Journal Article:
  Preventing Chronic Disease (PCD)
• Personal Author:
  Neiger, Brad L ; Thackeray, Rosemary ; Hanson, Carl L ; Anderson, Jonathan W ; Rigby, Sarah ; Hussey, Chelsea
• Description:
  Background
  
  The prevalence of overweight among US children and adolescents has increased substantially since 1980. As a result, overweight in childhood and adolescence has become a substantial health problem that requires effective health promotion programs and interventions.
  
  Context
  
  Coinciding with the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, the Utah Department of Health (UDOH) developed a pilot program called Gold Medal Schools (GMS) to promote healthy lifestyles among school-aged children.
  
  Methods
  
  The GMS program was designed to help schools develop policies and create healthy school environments to meet specific criteria at 5 levels: bronze, silver, gold, platinum, and platinum focus. Participating schools, mentored by the UDOH, earn incentives to create a healthy school environment.
  
  Consequences
  
  A total of 316 schools and approximately 166,600 students in 37 Utah school districts have participated in the GMS program. As a result, 1,029 medals have been awarded, 2,205 policies have been developed, and 2,121 environmental changes have been reported since program inception (2001-2002 school year).
  
  Interpretation
  
  Because of their participation in the GMS program, schools have developed and implemented a wide range of school-based policies and environmental changes. To improve the program, we recommend enhanced efforts in impact and outcome evaluation and increased participation in vigorous-intensity physical activity during the school day.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Adolescent Child Community Case Study Health Behavior Health Promotion Humans Motor Activity Needs Assessment Outcome And Process Assessment (Health Care) Overweight School Health Services Schools Young Adult

  More +
• Source:
  Prev Chronic Dis. 2008; 5(4).
• ISSN:
  1545-1151
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Utah
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  5
• Issue:
  4
• Collection(s):
  Preventing Chronic Disease
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:f5e843143fd99af38103ef2a8bcff266463b439f62d6b287bb0de9731c648524ba990c29a91dafe537e032d7a1c1197ae59cc82d70a1d685668608c7e3f903b8
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/20294/cdc_20294_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 291.18 KB ]