A three-year, collaborative health education program being conducted by UNLV and the City of Henderson is proving to be a successful model for educating school children about the benefits of leading healthy lifestyles.
The Hearts N' Parks program, which aims to reduce childhood obesity and the potential future consequences of poor diet and inactivity, has served more than 400 elementary school children since being implemented in several after school Safekey programs last spring.
Designed and implemented by faculty and students in UNLV's department of nutrition sciences and staff from the Henderson Parks and Recreation Department, the program combines fun activities with science-based lessons that reinforce the benefits of good nutrition and physical fitness.
Molly Michelman, visiting instructor in UNLV's department of nutrition sciences, says the one-year-old program has already produced some encouraging results.
"Of all the states participating in the Hearts N' Parks program, Nevada has shown the most significant progress so far," said Michelman. "Our testing indicates that the children who participated have not only dramatically improved their ability to identify heart-healthy foods, but are also more willing to eat healthier and engage in more physical activities."
Last Spring, Michelman developed an undergraduate course at UNLV specifically designed to support the Hearts N' Parks initiative. Students who enroll in the class are required to develop, teach, and modify lesson plans that stress the importance of good
nutrition and physical fitness to children in the participating Henderson schools. Over a six-week period, UNLV students visit the schools four times to administer a standard pre-test questionnaire, nutrition and fitness intervention lessons, and a post-test questionnaire.
Once completed, the test results are then entered into a national database maintained by the National Institute of Health (NIH), and they will ultimately be used to develop future Hearts N' Parks programs around the country.
Nevada was one of only 11 states selected nationwide to participate in the Hearts N' Parks program. In addition to the UNLV and City of Henderson partnership, the municipalities of Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Reno, and Sparks are also participating in the program.
The Hearts N' Parks program is sponsored by the NIH and the National Recreation and Park Association. Locally, the program was made possible by a grant from the General Mills Foundation and additional financial support from the American Dietetic Association.
