Project overview

Baseline data was collected in the first phase of the REAL Kids Alberta evaluation in the spring of 2008 with the next phase to be repeated in the spring of 2010. During the first phase, a total of 3935 Grade 5 students and 4209 parents were surveyed from 174 schools across Alberta. A similar number of students and parents are expected to participate in the second phase.

The evaluation of Grade 5 students includes:

• Harvard Food Frequency Questionnaire for Children and Youth (a dietary assessment tool) to assess dietary habits and nutrient intake
• Self-reported information on physical activity, screen time and recognition of AHW programs
• Measurement of height and weight to determine overweight and obesity from calculation of Body Mass Index

Following the first phase of data collection in 2008, the second phase of the evaluation includes school based data collection that is scheduled for the spring 2010 on a new group of grade five students. This will be accomplished by:

1. Administering surveys to 3000 grade five students across Alberta and measuring their heights and weights. The survey administration and height and weight measurement will be performed by trained evaluation assistants and a Regional Health Promotion Coordinator from the local health authority. Student's weights will be gathered using a scale that sends their weight to a remote read that the student will not be able to see. Students will not be given their weight or height measurement information to ensure that no comparison of weights will be possible by participants. The classroom teacher and two evaluation workers will be present at all times while the measurements are taken. Measurements will not be shared with the child, parents or other school personnel.
2. The parent/guardian(s) of participating students will complete a self administered survey about the home environment.
3. The principals of participating schools will complete a self administered survey on school programs and environment.
4. Each participating school will receive a confidential report with school specific results, which are compared to the provincial average for such things as: student's eating behaviour, parental support of healthy eating at school, student's physical activity, parental encouragement of physical activity, and students' sedentary activities.

Participation in this evaluation is voluntary. All participants must consent to participate by signing a consent form. Students will only be asked to participate if their parent/guardian has given them written consent to participate. All consent forms will be removed from the surveys to ensure confidentiality. All information collected will be anonymous and kept confidential and will not be shared with anyone including the child's school personnel. Individual schools will not be identified when the findings are produced.

The principle investigator of this evaluation is Dr. Paul Veugelers, Professor, School of Public Health, at the University of Alberta. Dr. Veugelers main areas of research are related to the importance of nutrition, healthy lifestyle, socio-economic factors, intervention programs and policies in relation to overweight and chronic disease prevention. Dr. Veugelers has extensive experience with school based evaluation. His Nova Scotia-based research revealed the success of a comprehensive school health approach in the Annapolis Valley through the ‘Make the Healthy Choice the Easy Choice' intervention. Students from these schools had substantially healthier diets with more fruits and vegetables and fewer calories from dietary fat and were 59% less likely to be overweight and 72% less likely to be obese.

The findings from this evaluation will provide valuable information to support Ministry wellness initiatives for children and youth. For further information please contact , the principal investigator, or , the Project Coordinator.

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