Healthy Futures Project: A Community Based Obesity Prevention Program

The Switch™ Program is a unique community and family-based behavior change initiative that helps motivate children to change three critical health behaviors that are risk factors for childhood overweight and obesity.

1300 students (male and female) were recruited through two separate school districts in Lakeville, Minnesota and Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Informed consents went to all students who chose to participate. Demonstration and Control school were randomly selected. Baseline data was collected regarding physical activity, screen time, and nutrition, standard body measurements, and baseline data, and salivary cortisol levels were taken. Parent and teacher surveys were also conducted. After baseline selected demonstration sites and students were provided with information focused on improving healthy behaviors while the control sites served as matched comparison groups.