PawPALS (Physical Activity as a Lifetime Skill)

With increasing concerns about the health and size of children, several faculty members in the Department of Kinesiology developed a before school activities program called PawPALS. Dr. Jaci VanHeest, an exercise physiologist, organized the effort and worked with a local elementary school to implement the program. Their goal: to develop healthy lifestyle behaviors and knowledge (physical activity and nutrition) through daily intervention in schools.

Within one school semester the program was deemed extremely successful by teachers, parents and participants. The PawPALs concept has garnered a good deal of media attention including local newspapers and television, along with Sports Illustrated magazine which featured the program in an in-depth article on children and obesity and NBC Nightly News.

Advance Feature: http://www.advance.uconn.edu/2004/041115/04111509.htm