Nutrition Friendly Schools
and Communities (NFSC) Development

To develop a comprehensive environmental model that addresses the health needs of LAUSD elementary school children by improving their nutritional status, the research team was awarded a CDC Participatory Research grant in 2002 (C Neumann, Principal Investigator, and WM Slusser, Investigator). The pilot study has demonstrated success in involving school and community stakeholders, including local parks and recreation staff, community health providers, parents, and farmer’s markets, to improve the school environment and support healthy eating and physical activity. 

Based on this pilot study, in 2004 the research team was awarded CDC funding to conduct a worksite wellness study in LAUSD. This randomized control trial focuses on the feasibility of using a participatory approach with elementary school staff to develop a work site health promotion program that reduces obesity via an environmental intervention encouraging healthy eating and exercise.

Publications:

Slusser et al, in press

Vecchiarelli S et al, in press

For additional information, please contact Wendy Slusser, director of the Center's nutrition and prevention of childhood obesity programs.