Social Cognitive Theory-Based Cooking Program for Student-Athletes’ Healthy Food Choices and Food Preparation Self-Efficacy

Abstract

The goal of EPIC Kids is to promote adoption of behaviors associated with a healthy weight trajectory and prevent excess weight gain while supporting growth and development in children at risk for type 2 diabetes. Objectives include making physical activity integral to life, healthy eating, and creating home environments to ensure healthy behaviors are the easy choice. Target Audience: Children -9-12-years-old -who have $1 type 2 diabetes risk factors and their caregivers. Theory, Prior Research, Rationale: Evidence-based, efficacious community interventions for diabetes prevention in youth remain a critical need. We adapted the successful adult-focused YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program (YDPP) to serve children and families at risk. Prior studies suggest effective interventions are family-centered, target diet and physical activity, and include parents. Description: EPIC Kids is a 12-week program led by YMCA lifestyle coaches consisting of weekly interactive sessions designed to engage families in healthy eating and physical activity, help them set goals around energy balance, and teach them to structure the home environment to support healthy lifestyle behaviors. Evaluation: Potential public health impact was evaluated using program reach, efficacy, adoption, implementation, and maintenance data collected from YMCA administrators (n¼4), lifestyle coaches (n¼12) and families (n¼47) using qualitative and quantitative methods. Thirty six percent of screened families were eligible to participate; participants expressed high program satisfaction (>87% enjoyed weekly activities) and 75% reported high likelihood of adopting recommended changes. Weekly attendance was 65%; program sessions were implemented as planned.Conclusions and Implications: EPIC Kids offers a community-based youth diabetes prevention program delivered by an organization located in over 10,000 U.S. communities.

Critical Consciousness of Food Systems as a Potential Lifestyle Intervention on Health Issues

“…16 Studies on food systems' impact on health usually take into account a single or a small part of all the processes within the food systems, making it difficult to understand how the whole food systems play a key role in health and well-being of consumers. Within the food systems literature, social cognitive theory integration has been well-received, especially with its use in explaining nutrition behavior, 15 dietary behavior, [17][18][19] physical activity intervention, 19 food preparation/safety, 20,21 food consumption, 22 and food marketing/ advertising media. 23…”

The Influence of Parents and Schools on Adolescents’ Perceived Diet and Exercise Self-Efficacy: A School-Based Sample From the United Arab Emirates

“…Self-efficacy is well-documented as a predictive factor in the adoption of desired behaviors (Al-Khudairy et al, 2017;Ellis, Brown, Ramsay, & Falk, 2016). The term derives from social cognitive theory (Bandura, 1977, p.3) and is defined as "belief in one's capabilities to organize and execute the courses of action required to produce given attainment".…”