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Healthy Bites: A Challenge-Based Worksite Wellness Nutrition Program, Mary E. Herndon, Adelina J. Espat, Laura R. Nathan-Garner

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Purpose: The worksite health promotion literature has shown that successful nutrition communication programs call for making small changes to diet, one at a time. The use of observational learning (role models) and a “challenge” scenario for behavior change is supported by Social Cognitive Theory. The significance of these small changes in worksites is underscored by a recent Harvard Business Review article suggesting workplace wellness programs can return up $2.71 on every $1.00 invested. The purpose of the proposed program, Healthy Bites, is to increase knowledge of employees regarding the impact of specific nutrition behaviors related to reducing cancer risk and …

Sports For Achieving Wellness, Paul Queen Jr.

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Title: SPORTS FOR ACHIEVING WELLNESS

Author: Paul Queen, Jr.

Affiliations: 1Wellness Coordinator, St. Johns Downtown United Methodist Church, 2Wellness Consultant, Houston Parks and Recreation Department (Soccer for Success and The First Tee FM Law Park), 3President/CEO, Quality Wellness.

Purpose: An age-old proverb reads, “It takes a community/village to raise a child”. The purpose of this project was to utilize sports as a vehicle to promote healthy community development. Method: Targeting the Southeast quadrant of Houston, Texas and using multiple community centers we initiated futsal (indoor soccer) team play for girls and boys ages 6 to 18. Each participant’s height, weight, …

Engaging Hispanic Seniors To Define Healthy Eating: A Community Based Participatory Pilot Study, Adelita Gonzales Cantu

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Purpose: Although nutritional education was provided consistently to a group of Mexican American seniors, it was found that the seniors were not translating this into behavior change. The purpose of this study was to utilize Community Based Participatory Research to understand how Mexican American seniors define healthy eating. Method: Fourteen seniors (M=73 yrs) were administered the Nutritional Screen Initiative and interviewed about definitions of healthy eating and sociocultural influences on eating habits. Results: The study demonstrated that although the seniors do have an appropriate definition of healthy eating, three influences consistently surfaced that were barriers, eating alone, finding ways to …

Engaging Mexican American Seniors To Define Healthy Eating: A Community Based Participatory Pilot Study, Adelita Gonzales Cantu Phd, Rn, Jillian Rushing

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Community based participatory research is a research strategy aimed at bridging the gap between research and practice. At the Good Samaritan Senior Center in San Antonio, TX there had seemed to be a disconnect between nutritional education provided to the seniors at their Senior Center and what the seniors did in practice. Despite significant efforts of the staff to provide nutrition education through classes and activities, 61% of the seniors attending still report an unhealthy body weight and many struggle with diabetes according to organizational assessments. The purpose of this study was to utilize Community Based Participatory Research to understand …