UP12 (continued)

S84 USDA NIFA Poster Abstracts Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior � Volume 44, Number 4S, 2012

Smith, PhD; K. L. Konzelmann, MS, CHES, USDA/ARSChildren's Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College ofMedicine; L. A. Moore, MS, CPRP; P. Gabriel, BA; D. Lathan,Houston Parks and Recreation Department

Objective: To document the effectiveness of a commu-nity, park-based, after-school program with structuredphysical activities, nutrition lessons, and healthy habitlessons to reduce obesity among underserved minoritychildren.Description: We plan to enroll approximately 900children aged between 9 and 12 years into the study.Half of the children will receive the Healthy Kids–Hous-ton intervention (intervention group) and the otherhalf will receive the standard park-based after-schoolenrichment program (control group). The interventionconsists of three 6-week sessions during a school year.Each week consists of two 2-hour structured lessons(90 minutes of structured physical activity + 30 minutesof either nutrition or healthy habit lessons). The final6-week session includes an aquatic fitness program forchildren.Evaluation: Body weight by digital scale, height by sta-diometry, flexibility by Sit-and-Reach, agility by timedcone drill, muscular strength by Both Sides Up test,muscular endurance by curl-up, physical activity levelby accelerometer, nutrition knowledge by a food intakequiz, and self-esteem by the Self Perception Profile forChildren. All the children will be measured at the begin-ning and end of each of three 6-week sessions. A gener-alized least-squares approach will be used to comparegroups with respect to change in measure after each 6-week session and after completion of the three 6-weeksessions.Conclusions and Implications: As of 2011, 671 chil-dren (10.3 � 1.0 years; 47.7 � 17.2 kg, 142.2 � 9.3 cm;53.1% boys; 62.7% Hispanic, 34.3% black; 16.9% over-weight, 47.2% obese) were enrolled into the study.The majority of children (89.8%) qualified for free or re-duced-cost school meals, and 79% had no health careinsurance or were covered by health care programs forlow-income families. Their self-esteem was significantly(P < .01) below that for normal-weight children. Se-venty-four percent of these children did not meet themoderate-to-vigorous physical activity recommendation.To combat childhood obesity, public and private re-sources should be invested to promote moderate-to-vig-orous physical activity and to enhance the environmentfor underserved, minority children.Funding: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Grant#2008-55215-18875.

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UP13 Stress, Financial Management, andChildhood ObesityC. Gundersen, PhD, cggunder@illinois.edu, University ofIllinois, Department of ACE, 1301 West Gregory Drive,324 Mumford, Urbana, IL 61801; S. Garasky, PhD, ImpaqInternational; M. Larsen, PhD, George Washington

University; A. Lyons, PhD, University of Illinois;S. Nusser, PhD, Iowa State University; B. Olson, PhD,Michigan State University

Objective: To analyze the effects of household financialstress on childhood obesity and analyze whether financialmanagement skills moderate the effects of financial stresson childhood obesity.Description: We address these objectives by using datataken from a Survey of Household Finances and ChildhoodObesity. This survey collects information from low-incomecounties in Illinois, Iowa, and Michigan about body massindex status, financial situation of the household, financialstressors, financial management skills, food insecurity, andother items.Evaluation:We use a variety of methods to address theseobjectives.Conclusions and Implications: To date, we havefound that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programalleviates childhood obesity and that financial manage-ment skills reduce food insecurity.Funding: USDA, National Institute of Food and Agricul-ture, Grant #2009-35215-05182.

UP14 Generating Rural Options for Weight(GROW) Healthy Kids and CommunitiesD. H. John, PhD, deborah.john@oregonstate.edu, OregonState University, Hallie E. Ford Center #345, Corvallis, OR97331; K. Gunter, PhD; M. Manore, PhD;G. Langellotto, PhD; L. Etuk, MS

Objective:We aim tomodel theWestern rural obesogenicenvironment and test our model in rural Oregon commu-nities.Description: Partneringwith extension offices in 6 states,we will use Community-Based Participatory Research to as-sess community features that support orhinder obesity-pre-venting behaviors and develop and test a rural obesityprevention model. Our intervention aims to balance child-ren's energy equation across rural home, school, and com-munity settings, thus improving body mass index.Evaluation:Change in body mass index (z scores) will beregressed on school (treatment/control) and home (FamilyNutrition and Physical Activity change).Conclusions and Implications: The project's signifi-cance is its focus on rural obesity prevention by engagingrural families, schools, and communities in strategies toaddress behaviors and environments.Funding: Agriculture and Food Research Initiative USDAGrant #2010-04614.

UP15 A Food Systems Approach to AddressingObesity among Food Pantry Client Householdsin MissouriS. Rikoon, PhD, rikoonsandy@missouri.edu, University ofMissouri, Department of Rural Sociology, Gentry Hall