2008 Johnson Elementary School Health and Education Initiative

Kentucky children suffer disproportionally from obesity, and obesity rates are highest in low-income, African-American, and Hispanic populations. Obesity is a major contributor to death and disability through heart disease, diabetes, asthma, and orthopedic disabilities. Obesity has its roots in childhood, and Kentucky is seeing an alarming increase in childhood obesity. Obesity typically starts in pre-school and early elementary school.

Asthma occurs in over 13 percent of Kentucky children. It is the leading cause of school absenteeism and one of the highest causes of emergency department visits and hospitalizations. Improperly managed asthma can lead to permanent and irreversible lung damage.

UK College of Medicine physicians Thomas Young, Jamshed Kanga, and Elsie Stines, in partnership with the YMCA, the Lexington Fayette County Health Department, God’s Pantry Back-pack Program, the Community Trust Bank, UK Healthcare, Fayette County Public Schools, and UK’s Colleges of Agriculture, Education, Public Health, and Nursing, have created the Johnson Elementary School Project.  Johnson Elementary School has the highest poverty rates in Fayette County, and over 70 percent of its students are African-American.  The obesity rate is well above the expected percentage. The Johnson Elementary School Project will pilot intervention for both obesity and asthma while attempting to raise the low number of Kentucky minority students pursuing health-related careers.

The obesity intervention includes nutrition education, classroom physical activity, use of non-food rewards, a School Health Committee, a parent program, a health-enhancing after-school physical activity program developed by the Center for Disease Control for children over the 85th percentile body mass index, healthy snacks, and behavioral change support.

The asthma intervention uses an asthma screening tool developed by Dr. Kanga to identify under-treated and undiagnosed asthma. With parental approval, identified students are evaluated and given a pulmonary function test as well as treatment and follow-up. Parents receive education sessions.

In conducting the asthma and obesity interventions, these elementary school students will interact with role models including UK students, residents, and faculty. The intervention hopes to increase the number of low-income minority students interested in health professions. Once validated, the program will be taken to multiple community schools and the faith community.