Reflections from an Undergraduate Student Peer Facilitator in the Team Up for Healthy Living School-Based Obesity Prevention Project

Team Up for Healthy Living was a cluster-randomized trial to evaluate a cross-peer school-based obesity prevention program in Southern Appalachia. Undergraduate students from the disciplines of Kinesiology, Nutrition, and Public Health were trained as peer facilitators to deliver an 8-week curriculum in high school Lifetime Wellness classes. The focus of the curriculum was on improving diet and physical activity with an additional emphasis on enhancing leadership and communication skills. Control group participants received their regularly scheduled Lifetime Wellness curriculum. The current article is about the experiences of an undergraduate kinesiology student participating as a peer-facilitator in the Team-Up for Healthy Living trial. A brief overview of the program and peer facilitator training is followed by this students reflections on both personal development and student outcomes

College Students as Facilitators in Reducing Adolescent Obesity Disparity in Southern Appalachia: Team up for Healthy Living

The proportion of obese adolescents in Southern Appalachia is among the highest in the nation. Through funding from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities — National Institutes of Health, the Team Up for Healthy Living project was a cluster-randomized trial targeting obesity prevention in adolescents through a cross-peer intervention. The specific aims of the project were to: 1) develop a peer-based health education program focusing on establishing positive peer norms towards healthy eating and physical activity (PA) among high school students, 2) test program efficacy, and 3) explore mechanisms underlying the program. The study was guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior, which presupposes that human behavior is primarily driven by attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and social support. To deliver the intervention, undergraduate students from the disciplines of public health, nutrition, and kinesiology were hired as peer facilitators. Ten area high schools were invited to participate, were matched on demographics and then randomized to intervention or control. The primary outcomes of the study included body mass status, dietary behaviors, PA, and sedentary behaviors which were assessed at baseline and at three and twelve months post baseline. Intervention schools received Team Up for Healthy Living curriculum, which consists of eight 40-minute sessions. The curriculum focused on improving nutrition awareness, PA, leadership and communication. Control schools received their regularly scheduled Lifetime Wellness curriculum. The long-term goal of the study was to establish an effective academia–community partnership program to address adolescent obesity disparity in Southern Appalachia

Supervising Physical Education Student Teachers Through Live Remove Video

This session will discuss the benefits, limitations and future possibilities of using live remote video supervision during physical education student teacher practicum experiences. Presenters will share their experiences using live remote video supervision both in general and adapted PE settings, and provide university supervisors ideas for implementation at their own institution

Keeping Kids Moving Through Cooperative Activities

This session will present various cooperative teambuilding games for elementary which will create a balance between developing cooperative skills and keeping your students moving. You don’t want to miss these high energy activities to add to your program

Modifying Team Sports for Middle School Success

Do you have students who get intimidated by team sports? Learn strategies to help modify popular team sports to promote success and life long participatio

Design and Methods for an Intervention Utilizing Peer Facilitators to Reduce Adolescent Obesity: Team Up for Healthy Living

The proportion of obese adolescents in Southern Appalachia is among the highest in the nation. Currently there are few effective programs that address this issue, especially among high school students. Through funding from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities in the National Institutes of Health, the Team Up for Healthy Living Project targets obesity prevention in adolescents through a crosspeer intervention. The specific aims of the project are: 1) To develop a peer-based health education program focusing on establishing positive peer norms and supportive peer relationships toward healthy eating and physical activity among high school students, 2) To test the efficacy of the program, and 3) To explore the mechanisms underlying the program. The intervention is based on the Theory of Planned Behavior, which presupposes that human behavior is primarily driven by attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavior control, and social support. Through influencing these components, the intervention is expected to improve eating behavior, increase physical activity, and lead to healthier body weight among adolescents in Southern Appalachia. Ten area high schools were selected to be a part of the project, and schools were matched based on similar demographics (school size and number of students enrolled) and were randomized to intervention or control. Wave one of baseline data collection was completed in January 2012; with 265 students assigned to intervention and 276 to control. A second wave of subject recruitment will occur in fall 2012. To deliver the intervention, undergraduate students from the disciplines of Public Health, Nutrition, and Kinesiology were trained as peer facilitators. These peer facilitators are teaching the eight-week Team Up curriculum during Lifetime Wellness classes at intervention schools. The curriculum focuses on nutrition awareness, physical activity, leadership, and communication skills. Page 84 2012 Appalachian Student Research Forum Control group participants receive their regularly scheduled Lifetime Wellness curriculum. Body mass index percentile, dietary behavior, and physical activity among study subjects will be assessed at baseline, and at three and twelve months post-baseline. In addition, peer group norms, body image, supportive peer relationships, role modeling, behavioral control/self-efficacy, attitudes, and intentions toward healthy eating and physical activity will also be assessed. Group differences will be assessed at each data collection period. The long-term goal of the study is to establish an effective academia-community partnership program to address adolescent obesity disparity in Southern Appalachia