As reported in F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies are Failing in America, obesity rates continue to climb in Oklahoma, with a rate of 28.1 percent. The state of Oklahoma has decided to do something about it.

The Cleveland County Health Department and the Community After-School Program are partnering with many community partners to implement the Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH) Kids-Club  evidence-based program. CATCH Kids-Club is a coordinated school health program designed to promote physical activity and healthy food choices. CATCH Kids-Club is being implemented in six elementary after-school programs in Norman, Okla., where kids are most at risk for being overweight.

After implementing the program for three years, children are changing their behaviors! Significant changes occurred in both years one and two of the program. Children were choosing popcorn without butter, low-fat milk, grilled chicken, and they knew that food choices made a difference in getting heart diseases or cancer. There was a 37 percent increase in three or more servings of vegetables eaten the prior day, which helps to combat Oklahoma’s dead-last ranking (50th) in fruit and vegetable consumption. Additionally, significant increases were found in physical activity among participants: 8.4 percent in year one and 17.7 percent in year two.

With parent involvement a challenge, CATCH Kids-Club coordinators have been working to excite parents about healthy eating and physical activity. Coordinators have held healthy tasting events with parents and children to try new snacks, sent home healthy cookbooks, games to play with their children, and communicated with parents via best-identified methods. Through these efforts, parents are requesting this program continue in the after-school environment, because they are not getting this information during the school day.

Want more information? Check out the CATCH website and the Oklahoma State Department of Health website at the links below:

www.catchinfo.org or www.ok.gov/health/Community_Health/Community_Development_Service/Health_Promotion/CATCH/index.html

- Amanda James, BS, CHES, Health Educator, Cleveland and McClain County Health Departments, amandac@health.ok.gov