Program ENERGY's long-term goal is to reduce the rate of obesity & type 2 diabetes (T2D) in elementary school students by teaching & reinforcing healthy behavior choices. Obesity & T2D are epidemics among our children and effective, feasible, sustainable, outcomes-based prevention in children is needed and MUST be implemented in elementary schools over the next decade. An intervention of this type will protect the health & quality of life of children and, therefore, ensure the nation's productivity & competitiveness. Research has provided the data & tools necessary to prevent these diseases, but the missing link has been a flexible, successful, research-based prevention program that can be replicated in most US classrooms. Program ENERGY will be developed with the intention of filling this gap & has proven to be a successful & promising model. Our initial program is a science-inquiry learning enrichment program combining 90 min/wk of classroom & physical activity activities designed to prevent obesity & T2D in 2nd - 4thgrade children throughout the school year. Over 2yrs, the intervention had high rates of enrollment & retention and sustained positive evaluations by children, educators & families. It produced significant health outcomes [increased health/science knowledge, attitudes (healthy food selection) and behaviors, (e.g., increased daily steps, increased body acceptance)] compared to the control school. Increased interest in science/health-related careers was also observed. Effective translation of innovative """"""""prevention platforms,"""""""" like the proposed Program ENERGY, into the elementary schools and into the daily lives of children & their families is a worthy & important goal. Goal of this SEPA combined Phase l/Phase II application, is to combine the most appropriate menu of program elements & resources, & to effectively disseminate the program. The sustainability of Program ENERGY is expected to come from a combination of future program income, sponsorships, & local support. For the present application, the specific aims to address the long-term goals are to develop & evaluate: 1) a major program focus on the prevention of T2D in addition to the prevention of obesity; 2) expand the current program to grades 5 & 6, allowing the ongoing longitudinal evaluation of the effectiveness of the program on BMI, body image, eating & physical activity behaviors, science & math achievement & interest in science and/or health care careers; 3) dissemination of combinations of """"""""stand alone"""""""" elements of a mini-Program ENERGY to at least 10 other elementary schools; and 4) dissemination of the full Program ENERGY in 2-4 additional classrooms in low income rural & suburban elementary schools with large Hispanic enrollments.
