FOSTERING SCHOOL HEALTH BY PARTNERING COLLEGE STUDENTS WITH A DIVERSE HIGH SCHOOL

• Background- Obesity among adolescents from various ethnic groups has increased to an even greater degree than adults and the high school offers a convenient place to educate students about healthy lifestyles.
• Purpose- To provide diverse high school students with a regularly meeting Nutrition Club
as an effective educative program concerning healthy eating habits and lifestyles and impact obesity later in life.
• Significance-The Nutrition Club partnership offers a program for improved school health to combat obesity that can be sustained within a diverse high school once it has been established.
• Methodology-College nutrition students presented twelve nutrition sessions at a local diverse high school during the academic school year of 2010-11. Student evaluations were obtained for session topics and activities.
• Findings/Results- Eighty-five diverse high school students participated in the year long Nutrition Club sessions and responded that they would be interested in maintaining the club through the next academic year and recognized the potential positive impact on lifestyle and obesity rates later in life. Club officers and a liaison teacher have been appointed for this continuation, along with successful topics and activities.
• Conclusions/Recommendations-Partnering college nutrition students with a local diverse high school can be a positive mentoring experience for the creation of a nutrition club that can affect school health and US obesity trends.