MSU graduate student Yolanda Coil is seen helping fifth-graders in Marshall work in their binders as part of the MSU (S)Partners project. Courtesy photo

MSU graduate student Darijan Suton hands out pedometers to fifth-graders at Marshall Middle School as part of the MSU (S)Partners project. Courtesy photo

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EAST LANSING, Mich. - Almost 40 percent of Michigan children are overweight or obese - nearly a third more than the national average - more than three-quarters of them are not eating right and half are not exercising enough, according to Michigan State University researchers leading a school-intervention program.

The program, (S)Partners for Heart Health, aims to improve fifth-graders' knowledge of nutrition and physical activity, increase the number meeting national physical activity recommendations and reduce risk factors for heart disease. During the school year, students are mentored by MSU dietetic and kinesiology students via monthly visits and a Web-based goal setting and tracking tool.

Led by associate professor Joe Carlson in the Department of Radiology's Division of Sports and Cardiovascular Nutrition, the program recently completed its first year in four schools across the state, compiling baseline health and nutrition data.

"Our goal is for children to have a positive relationship with nutrition and physical activity behaviors that can sustain or improve cardiovascular risk status and help prevent premature health problems," Carlson said. "About 30 percent of the 182 students we monitored did not meet national pediatric targets for cholesterol and other blood lipids, while 39 percent were overweight or obese."

As part of the program, students receive eight lesson plans by the schools' physical education teachers, assisted by the MSU team, who also mentor the schoolchildren via breakout meetings. The Web part of the program includes a secure site where mentors and students track their accomplishments and reinforce goals.

The program also includes students from the colleges of Human Medicine and Osteopathic Medicine, who serve as the measurement team for students' blood pressure, height, weight, cholesterol and other factors. Co-investigators on the project include Joey Eisenmann and Karin Pfeiffer in the Department of Kinesiology. Several MSU athletes, including football players Kirk Cousins and Kevin Pickelman and crew athlete Catie Tyzo, also have made visits to the schools.

The first year of the program focused on elementary schools in Holt, Marshall, Olivet and St. Louis; the program's second year is kicking off in the same schools. Two of the schools are serving as an active comparison group and receive the same curricula but do not use the MSU student mentors and Web-based tools. Carlson and his team are currently comparing the results of the (S)Partners schools to the comparison schools.

Carlson said it is vital to reach students at an age when the majority doesn't have significant risk factors and health problems.

"We need to give children the skills and tools they lack to adopt lifestyle choices that they enjoy and will sustain or improve cardiovascular health and overall health," he said. "The earlier and longer poor lifestyle choices are allowed to continue, the harder they are to modify. Schoolchildren are making decisions and learning things that have the potential to impact their long-term health."

Other key findings from Carlson and his team in the program's first year:

* About half of the students are not achieving national recommendations for physical activity and "screen time," which takes into account computer and video game use.

* Fewer than 25 percent are meeting nutrition recommendations for fruits, vegetables, whole grains and dairy consumption.

* Overall, the children demonstrated eating patterns with high amounts of sugar, sodium and fats and low intakes of fiber, calcium, iron, potassium and vitamins.

Funding to make this possible included an MSU Extension Family and Communities Together Grant as well as a $140,000 award from the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation. Carlson and colleagues are seeking additional funding to disseminate the program next year to more schools across the state in conjunction with MSU Extension.

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