healthy eating in uhe-moise-scd the clolenl time by Jean L. Wiecha, Georgia Hall, Ellen Gannett, and Barbara Roth

Oct 15, 2026

Healthy eating in OST examines childhood obesity and how dietary practices influence healthy weights and long-term health. It links elevated BMI in children to greater risk of hypertension, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes, and notes increased adult obesity and chronic disease risk. Recommended approaches include limiting sugar-sweetened beverages and trans fats, added sugar, and refined grains, while encouraging family involvement and self-regulated intake. It also outlines how OST programs can implement voluntary standards, menu supports, and environmental strategies.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages7

Reading Time18 min

AccessFree to download

Background on childhood obesity and dietary risk

Recommended dietary practices

OST programs as a setting for healthy eating

Standards, guidelines, and environmental interventions

Methods and interview structure

Semi-structured interview and guiding questions

healthy eating in uhe-moise-scd the clolenl time by Jean L. Wiecha, Georgia Hall, Ellen Gannett, and Barbara Roth More than 30 percent of American children are either overweight or obese (Ogden, Carroll, Curtin, Lamb, & Flegal, 2010), with a body mass index (BMI) in the 85th percentile or above. Although prevalence varies by age, sex, and ethnicity, all groups are affected (Ogden et al., 2010) . Risk of serious health problems increases with increasing BMI. Childhood obesity, characterized by BMI in the 95th percentile or above, affects 16.9 percent of two-to nineteen-year-olds; it is associated with increased risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes (Barlow, 2007). Childhood obesity also increases the risk of obesity and chronic disease during adulthood (Whitaker, Wright, Pepe, Seidel, & Dietz, 1997). Specific childhood dietary practices promote healthy weights and help reduce chronic disease risk. These include reducing intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (James, Thomas, Cavan, & Kerr, 2004; Ludwig, Peterson, & Gortmaker, 2001) and foods containing trans fats, added sugar, and refined grains (U. S. Department of Agriculture & U. S. Department of Health The co-authors, founders of the Healthy Out-of-School Time (HOST) Coalition, worked with the coalition to develop voluntary OST standards for healthy eating and physical activity. These standards were adopted by the National Afterschool Association in 2011. JEAN L. WIECHA, Ph. D., is an associate professor of exercise and health sciences at the University of Massachusetts Boston. She directs GoKids Boston, a youth fitness and research center providing OST programming. She was co-principal investigator on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) grant that sponsored this work. GEoRGIA HALL, Ph. D., is a senior research scientist at the National Institute on Out-of-School Time (NIOST) at Wellesley Centers for Women, Wellesley College, and managing editor of Afterschool Matters. She was principal investigator on the RWJF grant. ELLEN GANNETT, M. Ed., is the director of NIOST. She was a senior project advisor on the RWJF project. Celebrating her 30th year with NIOST, Ellen works on issues ranges from system building for afterschool and youth development programs to professional development and evaluation systems. BARBARA RoTH, M.A., is national director for youth and family programs for the YMCA of the USA. In this role, she supports the nation’s local YMCAs in strengthening families and supporting holistic development of children and youth. Barbara has more than 35 years of experience in the field. She is currently on the board of directors of the National Afterschool Association and was a senior advisor on the RWJF project. and Human Services, 2010). The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children eat a healthy breakfast and five or more fruits and vegetables daily. Other recommendations include letting children regulate their own intake and engaging the whole family in healthy habits (Barlow, 2007). Every organization that feeds children can employ these dietary strategies. Out-of-school time (OST) programs, which serve over 8 million children per year (Afterschool Alliance, 2009), are a promising setting for nurturing healthy eating habits. Children may be in programs for 15 or more hours per week during the school year and all day in the summer. Most programs provide at least one snack or meal and strive for positive role modeling (National AfterSchool Association, 1998). Environmental interventions that limit food choices to healthy options show promise in general and specifically in OST (Mozaffarian et al. , 2010; Story, Kaphingst, Robinson-O’Brien, & Glanz, 2008). While the quality of foods and beverages served nationally in OST programs is unknown, limited research (Mozaffarian et al. , 2010) and our field experience suggest wide variability. OST program menus may reflect voluntary quality standards or standards

FAQs

Why is childhood obesity a key health concern in this document?

It states that increased BMI is associated with higher risk of serious health problems, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes.

Which dietary practices are highlighted as promoting healthy weights?

It emphasizes reducing sugar-sweetened beverages and foods containing trans fats, added sugar, and refined grains, alongside recommendations for healthy breakfast and more fruits and vegetables.

How do out-of-school time (OST) programs support healthy eating?

It describes OST as a promising setting, where programs can provide snacks or meals, model healthy behaviors, and use standards and environmental interventions that limit choices to healthier options.

Oct 15, 2026

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