Suchergebnisse

North Carolina Extension specialists conducted a needs assessment of Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) agents to determine their foods and nutrition programming needs. Researchers examined agent and community needs, agent-offered programming, and barriers and facilitators to program implementation. Results will help inform the development of targeted agent trainings, materials, programs, and technical assistance related to foods and nutrition. The study is intended to help maximize the success of FCS foods and nutrition programming by supporting agents in delivering high-quality, evidence-based programs. This paper reviews study implementation, results, and relevant implications for other Extension professionals interested in performing a similar analysis.

Purpose.To ascertain the effectiveness of a behavior-change weight management program offered to teachers and state employees in North Carolina (NC).Design.Fifteen-week weight management program with premeasures and postmeasures.Setting.State agencies and public K-12 schools in five NC counties.Subjects.A total of 2574 NC state employees enrolled in 141 classes.Intervention.Eat Smart, Move More, Weigh Less (ESMMWL) is a 15-week weight management program delivered by trained instructors. Lessons inform, empower, and motivate participants to live mindfully as they make choices about eating and physical activity.Measures.Height, weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, blood pressure, confidence in ability to eat healthy and be physically active, changes in eating, and physical activity behaviors.Analysis.Descriptive statistics, t-tests, χ2tests, and analyses of variance.Results.Data are reported for 1341 participants in ESMMWL who completed the program, submitted an evaluation, and had not participated in the program in the past; 89% were female and mean age was 48.8 years. Average BMI and waist circumference decreased significantly. Confidence in eating healthfully and being physically active increased significantly. The percentage of participants with a BMI < 30 kg/m2increased from 40% to 45% and those with a normal blood pressure increased from 23% to 32.5%. Participants reported being more mindful of what and how much they ate (92%), being more mindful of how much daily physical activity they got (88%), and eating fewer calories (87.3%).Conclusion.This project demonstrated the feasibility of implementing a behavior change–based weight management program at the worksite to achieve positive outcomes related to weight, blood pressure, healthy eating, and physical activity behaviors. Programs such as this have the potential to provide health care cost savings.