Nutrition Education Resources and Programs Designed for Adolescents by Bonnie Spear, PhD, RD – March 2004

ADA's PIPPAH Pearl
March, 2004

Written by Dr. Bonnie Spear

Helping adolescents improve their eating and physical activity habits can be difficult. There are many programs that address nutrition education for adolescents. Listed below is a selected group of resources that are designed with both a clinical and public health focus.

General Programs
Pathways
American Indian Children, Grades 3-5
Goals: To implement a culturally appropriate school-based intervention to promote healthy eating, increase physical activity and decrease obesity.
Web: http://hsc.unm.edu/pathways (modules available from the web)

GEMS
8- to 10-year old African-American females
Goals: Reduce risk for obesity using a family-based behavioral intervention program.
Web: http://www.bsc.gwu.edu/bsc/studies/gems.html

Planet Health
Adolescents in sixth and seventh grade
Goals: Obesity reduction (decrease TV, increase fruit and vegetable, increase physical activity)
Web: http://www.humankinetics.com/

Weight Management Programs
KidShape
Ages pre-K through eighth grade
Goal: To increase awareness and promoted healthy lifestyles for families of overweight children/teens.
Web: http://www.kidshape.com/

Shapedown
6 to 18 years
Goal: To normalize weight by enhancing self-esteem and adopting healthy habits.
Web: http://www.shapedown.com/

Committed to Kids
6 to 18 years
Goal: An individualized approach to weight management conducted in group setting.
Web: http://www.committed-to-kids.com/

Health Works!TM
5 to 19 years
Goal: Comprehensive intervention for overweight teens
Web: http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/svc/prog/healthworks/

A Weigh of Life
Children and adolescents
Goal: To help teens change activity and eating behaviors to affect weight.
Web: http://www.texaschildrenshospital.org/

Other Resources
Team Nutrition
Pre-K to 12
Goal: School-based nutrition interventions
Web: www.fns.usda.gov/tn (downloads available)

CANFit
10 to 14 years
Goal: Improve nutritional status and physical fitness of California’s’ low income African American, Latino and Pacific Islander youth.
Web: http://www.canfit.org/