Motivating Healthy Behavior Changes in Elementary/Middle

School Students: The Healthy Kids and Kidneys

Program

Pamela Ross, MSW, MS, LMSW and Maureen Smith, MANational Kidney Foundation of Michigan

• Initially began as a chronic disease prevention program for 6th graders

• Evolved into a nutrition education program for 5th-7th grade students

• Teaching kids how to eat more fruits, eat more vegetables and do more physical activity

What is the Healthy Kids and What is the Healthy Kids and Kidneys Program?Kidneys Program?

Photograph by Doug Coombe

Why did we incorporate healthy Why did we incorporate healthy goals?goals?

Michigan • Ranks 5th for most obese state in the nation• 66% of our population is overweight or obese• 10% of our population has diabetes• Over 1/3 of our population is at risk for developing chronic

kidney disease

Over 70% of all kidney failure is caused by uncontrolled diabetes or high blood pressure

One in three children born in the year 2000 will develop type 2 diabetes in their lifetime

“When you set small, visible goals and achieve them, they start to get it into their heads that they can succeed.”

~Bill Parcels

Former head coach for the Dallas Cowboys

Why did we incorporate healthy Why did we incorporate healthy goals?goals?

Kids doing healthy goals...really?

• 98-100% student participation during the My Game Plan-Healthy Goal activity

Results

What Parents Say2012-2013 Parent Survey Results 

 

Responses to question: Over the past 8 weeks, I am…

% agree

 

eating more fruits 76%  

eating more vegetables 65%  

eating more low-fat dairy foods 71%  

eating fewer fast food meals 86%  

eating smaller portions at meals 76%  

getting more exercise/physical activity

71%  

eating fruits and vegetables instead of sugary snacks.

76%  

choosing healthier foods at the grocery store

81%  

using healthier cooking methods such as baking and grilling instead of frying

81%  

reading nutrition facts labels more often

62%  

“[The biggest impact HKK had on my child] is that she is eating more fruits and vegetables.”

“[My son] was highly motivated on trying to add more fruits into his diet.”

“Choosing healthy goals and achieving them [had the greatest impact on my child].”

What students sayWhat students say

“[My favorite part of the program] was when we went over our goals and what we were supposed to eat.”

“We got to keep track of how much exercise we do which encouraged me to keep trying.”

Photograph by Doug Coombe

April/May

April 11 X

1213

14 15

24 25

26 27 28 29 30 31June 1

1312

19 20 21 22 23

10 11

1817161514

28 29 30 May 1

56

8

2 3 4

9

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

18 191716 20

7

Let’s Move!Let’s Move!