The impact of an elementary after-school nutrition and physical activity program on children's fruit and vegetable intake, physical activity, and body mass index: Fun 5

Abstract

Objective: This study evaluated the impact of the Fun 5 program on fruit and vegetable intake, physical activity, and body mass index (BMI) percentile of overweight and obese children in Hawai'i's A+ After-School Program.

Methods: Children in 4th - 6th grades (n=119, 55% female) from six randomly selected schools participated in this longitudinal study. Time 1 (T1) measures were taken October 2007 and time 2 (T2) measures April 2008. Height and weight along with a self-report survey were used to measure fruit and vegetable intake, physical activity, and BMI.

Results: The "at risk" population, defined as fruit and vegetable intake <5 servings per day (n=30), physical activity <300 minutes per week (n=78), or Body Mass Index >85th percentile (n=48) at T1, showed a significant increase in fruit and vegetable intake, from 2.97 (± 1.16) servings per day at T1 to 5.60 (± 3.93) servings per day at T2 (P=<0.01) and physical activity, from 125.26 (± 76.03) minutes per week of physical activity at T1 to 222.18 (± 180.90) minutes per week at T2 (P=<0.01) and no change in Body Mass Index.

Conclusion: The Fun 5 program had an impact on improving fruit and vegetable intake and physical activity on the at risk population.