1. November 18, 2009 Signature Program for Child Health Research Amanda Harris, BS Mentor: Alberta Kong, MD, MPH Department of Pediatrics University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center Formative Assessment of High Schools in Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease and Type 2 Diabetes

2. Objectives To extend formative research for the development of a future school-wide prevention/intervention program for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in a current NIH funded school-based health center study that helps adolescents decrease their risk for metabolic syndrome. To collect formative research data on intrapersonal, interpersonal, institutional, community, and policy level mechanisms that may be created in high schools to support students in improving nutrition and physical activity.

3. Methods Potential School Areas Identified for Change 5/6 School Health Advisory Councils (SHACs) completed Healthy School Report Card and/or Alliance for a Healthier Generation Survey 6 HS with SBHC, >500 students, & similar demographics were recruited to participate Semi-structured interviews with 8 Parents of overweight students & 7 overweight students

4. Methods Continued Survey created to assess specific strategies within the identified school areas with regards to acceptability, feasibility, & sustainability Survey piloted with SHAC members from Taos High SchoolSurvey provided on Survey Monkey to remaining participating SHACs Analyze survey for consensus of strategies that are most acceptable, feasible, & sustainable to participating schools Return to schools’ SHACs with results & discuss intervention planSubmit Grant for Funding

5. Parent & Student Interview Results Key themes identified: Lack of healthy food options “…everywhere you go they sell pizza and like burritos, breakfast burritos and sometimes even regular burritos at lunch. Even if they change the menu up a bit that’d be better because it wouldn’t be the same thing everyday just burritos, burritos, or pizza, pizza, pizza.” (Student) Infrequent curricular/extracurricular physical activity opportunities “ There’s of course extracurricular activities like baseball and football and all that and then the PE but if the kid doesn’t want to join them then it’s not going to do any good for that kid… a gym class throughout their entire years in school, maybe that would be an idea.” (Parent) Inadequate exposure to health/nutritional information through classroom experiences

6. Preliminary Survey Results Areas receiving strong support from 23 completed surveys to date: Marketing campaign to promote nutritious snacks and food choices After-school program for students, parents, and school staff to engage in non-competitive physical activity aimed at fun, recreation, and lifelong healthy living Yearly taste tests of healthy foods that reflect the variety of religions and cultures that make up the school community Community activities to encourage students and their parents to be more physically active