Childhood Obesity Program Failed, University of Texas Study Finds
A four-year, $37 million state program to improve physical education at high-poverty middle schools failed to reduce obesity rates, according to a study by the University of Texas at Austin.
The program, Texas Fitness Now, primarily gave money to schools to buy sports and gym equipment from 2007 to 2011. One-quarter of the money was originally meant for nutrition, but a much smaller ratio — about 7 percent of the funds in 2009 and 2010 — went to schools for healthy eating initiatives, the study’s lead author said.
The program, Texas Fitness Now, primarily gave money to schools to buy sports and gym equipment from 2007 to 2011. One-quarter of the money was originally meant for nutrition, but a much smaller ratio — about 7 percent of the funds in 2009 and 2010 — went to schools for healthy eating initiatives, the study’s lead author said.