Community-based environmental approach to obesity prevention targeting first, second, and third grade students in Somerville, MA.

This study will demonstrate using measures of effectiveness, the feasibility of partnering with the community to create, disseminate, implement and evaluate Shape Up Somerville: Eat Smart. Play Hard., a community-based environmental change intervention to prevent obesity in culturally diverse, high-risk, early elementary school children. Based on formative work with parents, children, teachers, school food service, school officials, and community members, a community-wide campaign will be developed with targeted environmental change strategies for early elementary school children within the before-, during-, and after-school environments reinforced by changes within the home and community to support behavioral action and maintenance. The intervention targeting children will bring the energy equation into balance by offering numerous physical activity options that total up to 125 kcals per day and by improving the composition of the food served and the dietary options, particularly snack foods, available throughout the day. This study will measure awareness and participation of the partners and residents within the community. In addition the temporal change in BMI z-score will be monitored internally in 700 Somerville children and externally in 1000 control children from 2 demographically-matched communities for one year and will be compared to the change in BMI z-score in children participating in Shape Up Somerville with children from control communities over the one-year intervention and for one year of follow up. If successful, Somerville will serve as the model community that paves the way for cost-effective nationwide environmental action to prevent obesity at the community level.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Public school students in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade in Somerville, MA

Exclusion Criteria:

• none