Office on Women’s Health Toolkit and Program Help Adolescent Girls Improve Physical Activity Levels and Eating Habits

The Office on Women’s Health (OWH) has developed an obesity prevention toolkit and program called BodyWorks, designed to help parents and caregivers of young adolescent girls (ages 9-13) improve family activity and eating habits.  Created after a two-year formative research phase, the program focuses on parents as role models and provides them with hands-on tools to make small, specific behavior changes to help girls maintain a healthy weight and prevent obesity. 

BodyWorks is distributed through community-based organizations, state health agencies, non-profit organizations, social service organizations, health clinics, hospitals, healthcare systems, and schools and parent-teacher organizations.  Representatives from these types of organizations are trained in six-hour train-the-trainer sessions at the community and regional levels.  Once trained, individuals are prepared to lead other train-the-trainer sessions, as well as to facilitate the BodyWorks program with parents and caregivers.  

The program offers two toolkits: one for parents and the other for teens.  The parents’ toolkit presents seven simple steps to healthy living including:  1) Decide to have a healthy lifestyle; 2) See where you are now; 3) Understand healthy eating; 4) Recognize  the benefits of physical activity; 5) Set goals and plan; 6) Shop, cook, eat together; and 7) Support a healthy lifestyle for your family. 

The teens’ toolkit includes practical questions and answers such as “How does caffeine affect your energy level?,” and “What is a healthy weight?”.  It also contains a physical activity quiz and ideas for physical activity, shows how dieting is not the answer, offers ideas for healthy food options, and emphasizes the need for teens to eat meals with their families.  In addition, the toolkit includes information on eating disorders, signs of stress, eating habits and feelings, and ways to be media smart. 

BodyWorks is currently being adapted for the Hispanic/Latino population and Native Americans.  Additionally, materials for adolescent boys are being developed to make the program available to the entire family.  OWH also maintains a girls’ health website at www.girlshealth.gov. 

For more information about the BodyWorks Program, becoming a trainer, or how to find a trainer in your community, please contact Dr. Jonelle Rowe at the Office on Women's Health at bodyworks@hagersharp.com.

Source: BodyWorks website.