Two studies examined how availability and accessibility of fruits and vegetables (F&V) affected elementary students' F&V consumption. Surveys of parents and children, food consumption records, and examination of foods served at several schools indicated that children's F&V consumption was related to home and school availability and…

Examines research indicating that children are affected by U.S. society's preoccupation with thinness, discusses self-esteem and healthy body image, and offers suggestions for incorporating strategies into existing comprehensive school health programs to deter disordered eating and inappropriate dieting habits among children. (SM)

Reports the development of two nutrition behavior scales (for grades 2-3 and grades 4-6) given to 3,107 students from 129 schools nationwide. Results indicated significant nutrition knowledge gaps among students and identified several groups with excess knowledge gaps. The instrument appeared appropriate for most of the U.S. population. (SM)

Describes a study of weight control techniques and bulimic tendencies among elite female participants in an Olympic Swimming Selection Meet. Results showed concern with thinness, body dissatisfaction, and unhealthy eating, dieting, and weight loss patterns among participants. Discusses the explanatory power of the PRECEDE model. (SM)

Elementary students (n=900) received a nutrition education program focusing on cognitive and behavioral aspects of cardiovascular health. Assessments of their health knowledge and behavior were conducted at baseline and at five follow-up periods. Children increased their knowledge and improved food patterns, but among the cardiac risk factors,…

This study examined whether a computer-assisted instruction (CAI) nutrition program would help employees maintain weight loss and dietary intake improvements over time. Subjects received either no nutrition education, education with microcomputer use, or education without microcomputers. Posttesting found greater weight loss for CAI participants,…

Provides an overview of the Child and Adolescent Trial for Cardiovascular Health (CATCH) Eat Smart School Nutrition Program, an elementary school health promotion program. The article examines components of the CATCH kitchen visits and intervention materials, including the School Meal Program Guide, Fat and Sodium Criteria, Recipe File Box, Vendor…

This paper examines the history and future of health education. Data from an American Cancer Society study exemplify how well-designed, carefully conducted research can impact current understanding and future decisions in health education. Health educators' roles in making health education a national priority are discussed. (SM)

Discusses a survey of 498 parents from 2 midwest cities. Responses to questionnaires indicated that parents considered normal weight very important to children's health. Most felt it was not the schools' job to treat obesity. Many supported physical education classes teaching lifelong fitness or food and weight control. (SM)

Examines alternate determinants of obesity, evaluates the efforts and results of current weight management programs, offers suggestions for change from traditional weight control programs, and discusses implications for health education. Comprehensive health education must include behavioral, cognitive, social, and nutritional components to…

Preschool children within the Head Start program completed a picture identification study to assess their healthy behavior recognition. Results indicated that the instrument was a stable tool for assessing preschoolers' picture recognition abilities. There were significant age and ethnic group differences, but gender was not a factor. (SM)

Examines, by gender, the outcomes of the Minnesota Heart Health Program's Class of 1989 Study, presenting observations of the stability of students' behaviors over seven years. Self-reported data on various health-related behaviors indicated that girls may be more receptive than boys to social influences models of health education. (SM)

This study assessed ninth graders for evidence of ethnic and gender differences in the relationships between television viewing and adiposity, physical activity, and dietary fat intake. Television viewing related to increased dietary fat intake, and cultural factors influenced the susceptibilities of children to the effects of television viewing.…

This study examined whether a comprehensive elementary health education curriculum influenced students' health behaviors after reaching eighth grade. Surveys of students in intervention and nonintervention districts indicated no apparent curriculum effects for most health behaviors. The only major difference was for the variable of age at first…

Two studies examined the efficacy of school-based exercise and nutrition programs with parent components. Elementary students participated in exercise and nutrition programs with or without home components. School/home program students scored significantly higher than the groups with no home component on tests of nutrition and fitness knowledge,…