Longitudinal Findings From the Colorado LEAP Study: An Obesity Prevention Study in Early Childhood

Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior  Volume 48, Number 7S, 2016 NP3 (continued) 3 phases: Formative Research; Intervention Development; and an Intervention Efficacy Study. Evaluation: The intervention study will employ a quasiexperimental controlled design, and test the impact of the established Food Friends preschool programs (control) and the combined preschool and family-based programs (Intervention) will be compared to determine effects on: children’s willingness to try new foods and dietary intake; children’s motor performance and physical activity; and quality of parent-child interactions related to eating and activity; and the home food and activity environment. Conclusions and Implications: The project’s goal is consistent with USDA’s goal of improving the nation’s nutrition and health by promoting the development of healthy eating and activity habits in children. By implementing an intervention both at home and childcare, we expect to uncover information about the processes by which parents can learn about and support healthy eating and activity for their children. In addition, we will discover the facilitators and barriers to success for families’ learning, skill-building and adoption of behaviors to create healthy home environments. Funding: USDA Grant #2015-68001-23240

NP4 Longitudinal Findings From the Colorado LEAP Study: An Obesity Prevention Study in Early Childhood Laura Bellows, PhD, RD, MPH, laura.bellows@colostate. edu, Colorado State University, 1571 Campus Delivery, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1571; S. L. Johnson, PhD, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus; P. Davies, PhD, OTR, Colorado State University; W. Gavin, PhD; R. Boles, PhD, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Objective: The Colorado LEAP study was an intervention trial focused on improving the food acceptance patterns and gross motor skills (GMS) of young children at high risk for obesity. Description: Children (4y old) and families (n¼249) were recruited from Head Start settings in 5 rural communities. At baseline (T1), a taste preference assessment (9 foods) was performed; refusals to try foods were noted. The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-2nd Edition measured balance, running speed/agility, ball skills and strength. Children in the intervention group (n¼146) received the Food Friends program, a program designed to improve children’s willingness to try new foods (12 weeks) and enhance GMS (18 weeks). Assessments were repeated for control and intervention groups at post-intervention (T2), 1-year (T3) and 2-year (T4) follow-ups. Refusal behaviors were analyzed by Kendall’s W tests and Mann-Whitney U and GMS by regression analysis. Evaluation: Children’s food refusals decreased significantly over time in both intervention [c2(3)¼31.87, p<.0005,w¼.11] and control [c2(3)¼38.38, p<.0005], w¼.21] groups. There was a significant intervention effect at t2, where children in the intervention group

USDA NIFA Poster Abstracts S113

(mrank¼75.3) showed significantly fewer refusals than control group children (mrank¼84.7), u¼2593.50, p¼.04. A significant intervention effect was found for ball skills at t4 (b¼.198, t¼3.28, p<.0005), controlling for scores at t1 (b¼.594, t¼9.57, p<.0005). The overall model accounted for 41% of the variance in scores at t4, f(4,160)¼29.98, p<.0005. Conclusions and Implications: The food friends intervention demonstrated significant impacts on food refusals pre-post intervention and on ball skill acquisition over a 2-year period. Because early childhood is one of rapid development, it may afford the best opportunities for altering development in ways that can reduce obesity risk. Funding: USDA Grant #2010-85215-20648

NP5 Using Community-Led Mini-Grant Projects to Increase Access to Healthy, Affordable Food and Places to be Active Sarah Bowen, PhD, [email protected], North Carolina State University, 10 Current Drive, Suite 334, Campus Box 8107, Raleigh, NC 27695; S. Elliott, PhD; Z. Alford, MPH; H. Herrera, BS Objective: Voices into Action: The Families, Food, and Health Project is a five-year, USDA-funded research and outreach project based out of North Carolina State University, North Carolina State University, A&T State University, and NC Cooperative Extension. Voices into Action (VIA) draws on community-based research to collaborate with community groups to improve access to healthy food and places to be active in three regions in North Carolina. Target Audience: VIA provided mini-grants to organizations working in Southeast Raleigh (in Wake County), western Harnett County, and Lee County to support community-led projects focused on improving access to food and opportunities for physical activity. Theory, Prior Research, Rationale: Based on the socio-ecological model, mini-grants facilitate behavior change by creating long-term environmental changes. All projects are required to implement a policy or environmental change, build on or develop community partnerships, and include a plan for sustainability. Description: Fifty-nine mini-grants were awarded over a four-year period (2013 – 2016). Projects vary in scope, and include community gardens, exercise programs, and nutrition education classes. Mini-grant recipients also receive technical assistance, including support with project impact. Evaluation: Grantees were interviewed before and after implementing mini-grant projects. Interviews indicate that the experience increased organizations’ connections to community resources, fostered community partnerships, and enhanced organizational capacity. However, organizations’ success and capacity for long-term sustainability varied. Conclusions and Implications: Community-led minigrant projects can be a viable method of putting research Continued on page S114