Promoting Healthy Lifestyles to Children at School: Using a Multidisciplinary Train-the-Trainer Approach

Objective: The purpose of the study was to examine the efficacy of a multidisciplinary train-the-trainer model for improving fitness and food label literacy in third-grade students. Design: University student trainers taught ABC for Fitness and Nutrition Detectives, established programs to promote physical activity and nutrition knowledge, to 239 third-grade students in 2 communities over a 6-month period. A total of 110 children were in the intervention group and 129 children in the control group (2 schools each). Outcomes included the Food Label Literacy and Nutrition Knowledge test and the fitness measures of curl-ups, push-ups, 0.5-mile run, and sit and reach. Focus groups were conducted as process feedback. Setting: Four public schools in 2 different communities. Participants: A total of 200 third-grade students. Intervention: ABC for Fitness and Nutrition Detectives. Main Outcome Measures: Food Label Literacy and Nutrition Knowledge test and the fitness measures of curl-ups, push-ups, 0.5-mile run, and sit and reach. Results: Nutrition knowledge increased in the intervention group by 25.2% (P < .01). Fitness measures in the intervention schools showed greater improvement than those in the controls for curl-ups (P < .01), push-ups (P < .01), sit and reach left (P = .07), and 0.5-mile run (P = .06). Process feedback from 3 teachers and 60 students indicated satisfaction with the program. Conclusion: Adaptation of the train-the-trainer approach for Nutrition Detectives and ABC for Fitness was effective for delivering these health-related programs.