Eating and Activity Behavior Survey
Fitness
Fitness test scores changed significantly from pre to post for both child and parent participants. A significant increase in strength and endurance, measured by the number of curl-ups performed in one minute was obtained for girls (mean = 3.8; SD = 8.0; p = .001) but not boys (mean = 1.4; SD = 9.9; p = .4). The same results were found for flexibility, measured by sit and reach, between boys and girls. Girls had a significant increase in flexibility (mean = 1.2; SD = 3.3; p = .02) compared with boys (mean = 0.8; SD = 5.4; p = .4). When boys and girls were combined for analysis there was a significant increase for both curl-up and sit and reach measurements overall (mean = 2.7; SD = 9.0; p = .004 and mean = 1.0; SD = 4.3; p = .03, respectively). Parent fitness test scores increased for both strength and endurance and flexibility (mean = 3.1; SD = 5.6; p < .001 and mean = 2.4; SD = 3.8; p < .001, respectively). Figure 2 represents the percentage of child and adult participants that achieved significant (p<.01) increases in fitness test scores pre to post. For those with pre and post fitness test scores, 62% of child and 69% of parent participants achieved increases in strength and endurance, measured by the number of curl-ups completed in one minute. In addition, 57% of child and 62% of parent participants achieved increased flexibility, measured by the sit-and-reach test.
Eating and Activity Behavior Survey
Approximately one-half of the 107 child-parent pairs who began the LEAP program completed both pre and post Likert questionnaires. Changes in knowledge and behavior toward diet and activity patterns were examined using paired samples t-tests. Lower scores indicate stronger agreement with desired behavior. Tables 5 and 6 show the mean change scores pre- to post- test for the child and parent participants, respectively. Girls tended to have a greater change scores in the desired direction compared to boys. Even so, changes occurred in the desired direction (toward a lower score) in that children were more likely to agree with the eating and exercise behavior statements from pre to post. When boys and girls responses were combined for analysis there were significant changes for the eating behavior statements (p < .01) and for the activity statement (p < .05) on the child questionnaire. There were also significant changes in the desired direction among the parent participants for all knowledge and behavior statements (p < .001). The mean pre scores for both child and parent participants were generally in the “neither agree” nor “disagree” and “agree” categories. Mean post scores indicated a change toward the “agree” and “strongly agree” categories. For example, children were more likely to agree to the statements, “I eat five servings of fruits and vegetables every day” (pretest mean = 3.1; SD = 0.9) to (posttest mean = 2.5; SD = 1.2 and “I exercise at least 60 minutes most days of the week” (pretest mean = 2.5; SD = 1.3) to (posttest mean = 2.0; SD = 1.1); parents were more likely to agree to the statements “I encourage my child to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily” (pre mean = 2.4; SD =1.2) to (post mean =1.8; SD =0.8) and “I structure and active lifestyle for my child that includes at least 60 minutes of exercise daily” (pre mean = 3.3; SD = 1.2) to (post mean = 2.7; SD = 1.0). Additionally, parents were more likely to agree with statements regarding role modeling, participating in at least 30 minutes of activity with their child, eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily, and knowledge regarding accurate portion sizes and reading food labels. These findings illustrate desired changes in child and parent self-reported eating and activity knowledge and behavior.