Project Fit:a School- and Community-based Obesity Intervention (FIT)

• Physical activity measured by pedometer. [ Time Frame: 2 years ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Physical activity will be measured with a pedometer worn for 7-day period at the beginning and end of the intervention.
• Healthy eating index quantified by the Food Frequency Questionnaire. [ Time Frame: 2 years ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  The healthy eating index is a composite measure of diet quality.

Project FIT is a collaboration between the public school system, local health systems, physicians, neighborhood associations, businesses, faith-based leaders, community agencies and university researchers to develop a multi-faceted approach to promote physical activity and healthy eating toward the general goal of preventing and reducing childhood obesity among children in Grand Rapids, MI, USA. There are four overall components to Project FIT: school, community, social marketing, and school staff wellness - all that focus on: 1) increasing access to safe and affordable physical activity and nutrition education opportunities in the schools and surrounding neighborhoods; 2) improving the affordability and availability of nutritious food in the neighborhoods surrounding the schools; 3) improving the knowledge, self-efficacy, attitudes and behaviors regarding nutrition and physical activity among school staff, parents and students; 4) impacting the 'culture' of the schools and neighborhoods to incorporate healthful values; and 5) encouraging dialogue among all community partners to leverage existing programs and introduce new ones.

Inclusion Criteria:

• enrolled in participating school district in grades 1-5.

Exclusion Criteria:

• None

• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation
• USDA Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center