Healthy Habits

An Effective Practice

Description

Healthy Habits is a statewide campaign in Washington State that applies social marketing concepts to television reduction interventions. This campaign's primary audience is women and children participating in Washington State's Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

The program is delivered in two modules focused on family meals and family physical activity. Both modules emphasis television viewing reduction, and include background materials, staff-training materials, banners, posters, interactive handouts for clients, bookmarks to be distributed with WIC vouchers, children’s coloring materials, detailed plans for group sessions, and other supportive material.

Goal / Mission

Healthy Habits was designed to enhance the capacity of local WIC programs and partner agencies to promote healthy lifestyles in families with young children.

Results / Accomplishments

At baseline, 64.2% of WIC clients reported watching 2 or less hours of television per day. At 6 months, 70.5% reported meeting the recommendations for limiting television viewing to 2 or less hours per day. This change was statistically significant (p<.001). At baseline, 65% of respondents reported that they do not usually or never watch television during meals, but after 6 months, 69% of respondents reported not watching television during meals (p<.001). Greater changes were in families with lower parental education and those from non-white ethnic groups.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
University of Washington and Washington State Department of Health
Primary Contact
Donna B. Johnson, PhD, RD
PO Box 353410
Seattle, WA 98195
djohn@ u.washington.edu
http://depts.washington.edu/tvhealth/index.htm
Topics
Health / Physical Activity
Health / Children's Health
Organization(s)
University of Washington and Washington State Department of Health
Source
American Journal of Health Promotion
Date of publication
Jul 2005
Location
Washington
For more details
Target Audience
Children, Women, Families
Submitted By
LS