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share health and nutrition education messages that areappropriate for anyone interested in learning more abouthealthy lifestyles.

P55 School-based Nutrition and HealthyLifestyle Obesity Prevention Program ShowsSuccessJacy Gonzalez, BS, Agatston Research Foundation, 1691Michigan Avenue, Suite 500, Miami Beach, FL 33139,Jacy.Gonzalez@agatstonresearchfoundation.org; DanielleHollar, PhD, Agatston Research Foundation/University ofMiami Miller School of Medicine, 1691 MichiganAvenue, Suite 500, Miami Beach, FL 33139,danielle.hollar@agatstonresearchfoundation.org; T. LucasHollar, BS, Agatston Research Foundation/FloridaAtlantic University, 919 SW 2nd Court, #2, FortLauderdale, FL 33312, thollar@fau.edu; Arthur S.Agatston, MD, Agatston Research Foundation/Universityof Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1691 MichiganAvenue, Suite 500, Miami Beach, FL 33139,agatston@bellsouth.net

The Healthier Options for Public Schoolchildren (HOPS)Study tests the feasibility of a holistic nutrition and healthylifestyle management program in the elementary school set-ting. HOPS programming teaches good nutrition and healthylifestyle management by thematically integrating healthy di-etary offerings in school cafeterias, educational curricula forchildren, parents, and school staff, increased physical activity,and other educational projects such as school gardens. HOPSutilizes an intervention-control group design, which allowsassessment of efficacy of programmatic interventions, and in-cludes approximately 4713 children (48% Hispanic) attendingsix elementary schools (4 intervention; 2 control). The goal ofHOPS educational programming is to improve the well-beingand academic performance of elementary-aged children in amanner that is replicable in other public school settings.HOPS dietary programming resulted in approximately 28%less total fat, 21% less saturated fat and about two times moredietary fiber in intervention versus control school menus.Anthropomorphic measurement results indicate interventionchildren experienced more improvement, in a statisticallysignificant manner, in their body mass index (BMI) for ageand gender percentiles than did those attending controlschools (assessed by change in BMI z-scores from baseline tofollow-up: intervention schools, mean�.07, std�.64; controlschools, mean�.02, std�.44; p�.004). Additionally, reportsfrom school officials indicate children are requesting nutritionand healthy lifestyle change at home because of educationalprogramming: “Mommy, will you please buy me spinach?”Ongoing programmatic activities and additional data collec-tion and analyses will provide importantly relevant data toinform strategies for childhood obesity prevention program-ming in the public school setting.

P56 Fit for LearningMarjorie R. Freedman, PhD, Department of Nutrition andFood Science, San Jose State University, OneWashington Square, San Jose, CA 95192,mfreedman@casa.sjsu.edu; Linda Sweeny, RD, San JoseState University, linda12356@aol.com; Sarah Samuels,DrPH, Samuels & Associates, 663 13th Street, Oakland,CA 94612, sarah@samuelsandassociates.com; Lisa Craypo,MPH, RD, Samuels & Associates,lisa@samuelsandassociates.com; Steve Berta, MS, SantaClara County Office of Education, 1290 Ridder ParkDrive, San Jose, CA 95131, Steve_Berta@sccoe.org.

Increasing numbers of youth in Santa Clara County areoverweight, with medical co-morbidities. The purpose ofFit For Learning (FFL), an elementary school-based inter-vention based on social learning theory, is to increasenutrition knowledge and change eating and physical activ-ity behaviors, with the ultimate goal of decreasing rates ofoverweight. The cornerstone of FFL is a resource guide(“binder”) containing nine monthly lessons including “5-a-day”, “Let’s Move”, “Celebrate”, “Heart Healthy Body”and “Consumer Beware”. Each monthly section contains acalendar of suggested activities, school and take home ac-tivities (including copy ready handouts), classroom rewardideas, a classroom poster, and a list of additional resources.All materials meet California State Grade Content Stan-dards. FFL was piloted in 5th grade classrooms in 33 ele-mentary school districts in the county during the 2005-06school year. Teachers, parents, and counselors were re-cruited as “Champions” at 99 schools. At the end of theschool year, all Champions were surveyed to assess use ofmaterials, ease of implementation, perceived changes instudent health and changes in the school environment. Of74 respondents, 91% reported using some FFL materials.Although 73% reported lack of teaching time an issue, mostindicated students spoke more about nutrition and health,brought healthier foods from home, and engaged in morephysical activity at school as a result of FFL. Overall,Champions had a positive experience with FFL, but sug-gested additional trainings to improve teaching skills. Inconclusion, FFL can make a positive contribution to theoverall school health environment.

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P58 On the Move to Better Health:Motivating Children to Improve Eating andPhysical Activity HabitsJulie Garden-Robinson, PhD, LRD, EML 351, Departmentof Health, Nutrition and Exercise Sciences, NorthDakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105, julie.garden-robinson@ndsu.edu; Rita Ussatis, MS, LN, Cass CountyExtension Service, 1010 2nd Avenue South, Box 2806

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S126 Poster Abstracts