The BodyWorks program was developed by the Office on Women's Health to provide parents and caregivers with tools and strategies to improve family eating and activity habits and support adolescents in maintaining a healthy weight. The program includes 10 parent-focused sessions led by trained facilitators, along with magazines and journals for teens. An evaluation found the program significantly changed parent behaviors and intentions and girls responded positively to their parents' participation, though recruitment of parents was more challenging than recruiting trainers.

1. Office on Women’s Health,
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
www.womenshealth.gov/bodyworks

2. Background
• Parents and caregivers play an important role in shaping
the nutrition and physical activity patterns of their
children
• Children and adolescents are less likely to be overweight
or obese if their parents maintain a healthy weight
• Parent participation in childhood obesity prevention
programs has been shown to have a positive effect on
program success

3. BodyWorks Program
Purpose:
• To provide parents/caregivers with tools &
strategies to improve family eating and activity
habits
• To support adolescent boys and girls in reaching
and maintaining a healthy weight
• To prevent obesity among adolescent boys and
girls

4. Primary audience
• Parents and caregivers
of adolescent boys and
girls
Secondary audiences
• Adolescent boys and
girls
• Other family members

5. MAIN MESSAGES
Healthy teens
become
strong adults

6. MAIN MESSAGES
Parents are an important influence on
their children’s eating and activity habits

7. MAIN MESSAGES
Change takes time —
begin by taking a few small steps

8. BodyWorks
• HHS’ developed parent-focused program after
two years of formative research
• Introduced in 2006
• Led by trained facilitators
• Ten parent-focused sessions, 90 minutes each
• Girls/boys come to two sessions with
parents/caregivers

9. Community-Based
Approach to Distribution
• Trainers are trained in
one-day small group
sessions to:
– Promote the program
– Recruit parents and
caregivers
– Facilitate 10-session
program with parents and
caregivers
– Train others to be trainers
Office on Women’s
Health
10 OWH Regional Offices
Community-based organizations,
health professionals,
hospitals/clinics, faith-based
organizations, and other non-
profits
Parents/Caregivers
Teens Families

10. States with BodyWorks Trainers

11. Partners and Collaborators
• Action for Healthy Kids
• Alliance for a Healthier
Generation
• American Association of
Family and Consumer
Sciences
• BCBS of Michigan (Building
Healthy Communities)
• General Mills Foundation and
Community Action Plan
• GirlTrek
• Latino Health Access
• National Association for Health
& Fitness
• National Association for Health
Education Centers
• National Coalition for
Promoting Physical Activity
• Obesity Action Coalition
• Seattle BodyWorks Coalition
• U.S. Mexico Border Health
Commission
• Virginia Department of Health
(CHAMPION)

12. Program Components
Parents/families
1. BodyBasics (Parent’s Guide)
2. Food and Fitness Journals
3. Weekly Planner (magnet)
4. Recipe Book
5. Shopping List
6. DVD on Shopping & Cooking
Boys/Girls
1. For Teens and For Guys
Magazines
2. Food and Fitness Diary

13. BodyBasics/
Fundamentos
Format:
• Magazine style
publication for visual
appeal
Purpose:
• Provides health
information, strategies
for healthy eating and
regular physical activity
• Explains how to use the
toolkit
• Lists resources for
families

14. Food and Fitness
Journals/Diario de
Comidas Y
Actividades Fisicas
•Family members to
record meals, snacks,
activities, and emotions
to identify eating and
activity habits
•Checklist in
BodyBasics helps
parents review journal
entries
•Goal-setting chart in
diaries

15. Recipe Book/
Platillos Latinos
Purpose:
• To provide
families with
easy, low-cost
recipes for meals
and snacks
• To reinforce
nutrition and
cooking
information
featured in
BodyBasics

16. Weekly Planner/
Plantificador Seminal
Format:
• Refrigerator magnet
write-on/wipe-off board
with pen
Purpose:
• To help parents/
caregivers plan meals,
snacks, physical
activities

17. Shopping
List/Lista de
Compras
Format:
• Pad with checklists
Purpose:
• To help parents/
caregivers plan
shopping trips and
choose healthier
options

18. BodyWorks For Teens
and For Guys
• Magazine-style publications
for girls and boys (9 to 14)
Publication content
• Self-assessments, quizzes,
games, interviews
• Goal-setting tools
• Teen writers/illustrators
Formative research
• Literature review
• Health behavior change
theory
• Focus groups

19. Train-the-Trainers Guide
• One day training
• Appendices
- A. Training Tips
- B. Behavior Change
- C. Resources
Training Manual for Parents
• Lesson plans for 10 sessions
• Behavior Change
• Healthy Eating
• Physical Activity
• Setting Goals and meal
planning
• Shopping for meals
• Advocacy
• Media Influences

20. For Guys Training Guide
Addendum
• Background
• Including Boys & Girls in BodyWorks
Sessions
• Tips for Facilitating BodyWorks & Boys
• Assessing Parenting Styles
• Websites: Teens’ Health & Behavior
• Your Teens & Stress
• Reading List for Parents
• Suggested Websites for Parents with Boys
• Media & Boys: What Parents Can Do
• Emotional Eating Case Study
• Screen Time Case Study
• Your Environment
• Websites For Guys with Ads
• Key Areas of Adolescent Development &
Learning

21. BodyWorks Program Support
• Bodyworks Web site
– www.womenshealth.gov/bodyworks
• Find trainers, trainings, programs
• Planning and promotion tools for trainers
• BodyWorks Listserv
– Self-subscribed, moderated
• Update Newsletter
– Quarterly

22. BodyWorks Program Support
• Technical Assistance
– One-on-one follow up with new trainers
– New trainer orientation packet
– Program planning assistance
– Regional trainer conference calls
– Regional Trainer Advisory Panel
– BodyWorks@hagersharp.com - public inquiry

23. National BodyWorks Evaluation
Objectives
• Evaluate impact on knowledge, awareness,
attitudes, and practices of parents and girls
regarding nutrition and physical activity
• Determine the most effective strategies for
successful implementation of BodyWorks

24. Key Findings
• BodyWorks significantly changed parent intentions,
motivation, and immediate behavior.
• Girls responded positively to their parents/caregivers’
participation in BodyWorks.
• Once enrolled in the 10 session program, 70 % of
parents stayed for the full program. We are continuing to
increase the number of parents taught.
• BodyWorks led to an initial, effective train-the-trainer
process; it was more effective in recruiting other trainers
than in recruiting parents/caregivers.

25. National BodyWorks Evaluation
Disseminating the Results
• Final Report complete
• Executive Summary distributed
– BodyWorks Trainers
– Partners
– Steering Committee
– Federal partners
• Results disseminated at conferences & exhibits

26. Questions?
Bodyworks@hagersharp.com