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Salud con Sabor Latino is a culturally sensitive obesity prevention curriculum that incorporates the traditions and values of the Latino community and family. The 4-week curriculum meets twice a week and includes an education and cooking component. Key components of the curriculum are portion size, reading food labels, taking small steps, eating a variety of foods, and the importance of physical activity. The curriculum is taught in English and Spanish by a bicultural promotora. Participants are primarily low income and uninsured. Goals of the program are to improve (a) knowledge of fitness and nutrition, (b) physical activity, (c) healthy eating, and (d) body fat measures. This study was a pretest and posttest evaluation of nutrition, physical activity, and body fat after the obesity prevention intervention with Latinos (n = 82). Results indicated a significant increase in physical activity (t[75] = − 6.35, p

Introduction: A school-based obesity prevention program was designed using the community-based participatory approach to promote health-related behavioral changes. Methods: All physical education students in the middle school (6th, 7th, 8th graders) received the curriculum in a 9-week period as part of the normal class curriculum. A large subset of these students (pre-testing n = 226 and post-testing n = 214) agreed to participate in the research project evaluating its effectiveness. All subjects enrolled in the study were assessed on height, weight, nutritional knowledge, nutritional behaviors, physical activity behaviors, parental and peer support of nutrition and physical activity changes. A feedback questionnaire was completed by parents and students. Results: The program successfully impacted nutritional intake and physical activity as well as having a positive impact on both peer and parent support of behavioral change. Discussion: The positive results found in the present study are discuss...