Healthier Options for Public Schoolchildren (HOPS)

An Evidence-Based Practice

Description

The HOPS program is an obesity prevention program targeting low-income elementary school students aged 6-13. The HOPS program includes both nutrition and physical activity components.

Elementary school-provided breakfasts, lunches, and snacks were modified to include more high-fiber items, fewer high-glycemic items, and lower amounts of total, saturated, and trans fat. Students were taught about the importance of daily physical activity and good nutrition using USDA team nutrition materials. Fruit and vegetable gardens were developed at the elementary schools. Opportunities for increased physical activity were promoted within the classroom and during recess and other activities.

Goal / Mission

The goal of the HOPS program was to improve overall health status and academic achievement using replicable strategies.

Impact

The HOPS intervention helped students who qualified for free or reduced price meals both stay within the normal BMI percentile and score higher on their state math achievement test.

Results / Accomplishments

Students in schools receiving the HOPS intervention who qualified for free or reduced price meals were compared to students in control schools who qualified for free or reduced price meals.

During the two school years the study was implemented, significantly more students who received the HOPS intervention stayed within the normal Body Mass Index (BMI) percentile than students from control schools (p=.02). Students who received the HOPS intervention also scored significantly higher on the Florida Comprehensive Achievement Test Math Section than students in control schools (p<.001).

This study provides evidence that school-based obesity prevention interventions can have positive effects on weight and academic performance among low income children.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
Department of Medicine,University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Primary Contact
Danielle Hollar
daniellehollar@gmail.com
Topics
Health / Physical Activity
Health / Children's Health
Education / Student Performance K-12
Organization(s)
Department of Medicine,University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Source
American Journal of Public Health
Date of publication
Apr 2010
Date of implementation
2004
Location
Osceola
For more details
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20167892
http://www.whatkidscando.org/featurestories/2009/1...
Target Audience
Children
Additional Audience
low-income

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  1. School Nutrition Policy Initiative
  2. Bienestar: A School-Based Diabetes and Obesity Prevention Program
  3. Health Education to Reduce Obesity (HERO)
  4. Children and Neighbors Defeat Obesity (CAN DO) Houston
  5. Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child-Care (NAP SACC)
  6. Nutrition Detectives

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Related Content for: Healthier Options for Public Schoolchildren (HOPS)

An Evidence-Based Practice meets the following HCI criteria:

  1. The program description includes at a minimum: the sponsoring organization, program goals, program implementation steps, and outcomes that have demonstrated program success in achieving the program goal in one or more localities.
  2. The results from an evaluation of the program include quantitative measures showing improvement in the outcome(s) of interest after the implementation of the program (i.e. increase in smoking cessation, not just the delivery of a smoking cessation program). The outcome measure(s) is/are compared at relevant time periods before and after the intervention or program implementation. Alternatively, the evaluation study compares the outcome(s) between an intervention group and an appropriate control group.
  3. The study is of peer-review quality and presents numbers in a scientific manner; measurements of precision and reliability are included (e.g. confidence intervals, standard errors), results from statistical tests show a significant difference or change in the outcome measure(s), and relevant point estimates and p-values are presented. Note: if the results from an evaluation of a program are presented in a scientific manner and the outcome measure is improved compared to the baseline measurement or the control group but the difference is not statistically significant, the practice is classified as effective and not evidence-based.