Hip-Hop to Health Jr
An Evidence-Based Practice
Description
Hip-Hop to Health Jr. is an obesity prevention program for minority preschool children. The intervention was developed with input from pediatricians, early childhood educators, exercise physiologists, community health advocates, and experts in minority health. The intervention was designed to be effective for both overweight children and children who are at risk for becoming obese. Hip-Hop to Health Jr. is a 14-week healthy eating and exercise program, which was designed for implementation in preschool classrooms. The curriculum consists of 3 weekly sessions. The lesson plans incorporate two major components: a 20-min lesson, consisting of a healthy eating or exercise concept with an activity, and 20 minutes of ongoing physical activity. The lessons involve the use of colorful and friendly handheld puppets that represent the seven food groups of the food pyramid. The puppets lead the children in intervention activities and adventures. The activity session involves games, songs, and dancing. The parents also receive weekly newsletters which contain curriculum information, homework activities, and coupons for health food options.
Goal / Mission
The goal of Hip-Hop to Health Jr is to reduce gains in BMI in preschool minority children.
Results / Accomplishments
Multiple studies have evaluated Hip-Hop to Health Jr, mainly looking at its effect in reducing body mass index. One such study, a randomized controlled trial,was conducted to assess the impact of the intervention in Head Start programs. Chicago-based Head Start classes were either randomized to the Hip-Hop to Health Jr intervention or to the control group. Intervention children had significantly smaller increases in BMI compared with control children at the 1-year follow-up (p=0.01). In addition, intervention children showed a significant difference in percent of calories from saturated fat (p=0.002). The intervention was deemed effective by the investigators and represents a promising approach to prevention of overweight minority children.
About this Promising Practice
Organization(s)
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University
Primary Contact
Marian L. Fitzgibbon
Institute for Health Research and Policy
University of Illinois at Chicago
1747 West Roosevelt Road, Room 558
Chicago, IL 60608
mlf@uic.edu
http://www.hiphoptohealth.com/
Institute for Health Research and Policy
University of Illinois at Chicago
1747 West Roosevelt Road, Room 558
Chicago, IL 60608
mlf@uic.edu
http://www.hiphoptohealth.com/
Topics
Health / Children's Health
Health / Physical Activity
Health / Physical Activity
Organization(s)
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University
Date of publication
2005
Location
Chicago
For more details
Target Audience
Children, Racial/Ethnic Minorities