UVA WISE

Eat Smart

Play Strong Program

The Project

UVA Wise will launch the Eat Smart and Play Strong Program to integrate nutrition literacy education with physical activity in PE classes at LF Addington Middle School. This initiative aims to help 5th, 6th, and 7th grade students develop healthy dietary habits through engaging, movement-based learning.

Work to be Conducted:

Develop and pilot the curriculum by integrating nutrition literacy into PE classes and evaluating its effectiveness.
Collect and analyze feedback from teachers to refine teaching methods and curriculum content.
Expand the program to reach all middle school students based on pilot study results.

Goals to be Achieved:

Assess student progress through pre- and post-program testing to measure nutrition knowledge and physical activity levels.
Monitor participation rates to ensure engagement and completion.
Provide training for educators to effectively deliver the curriculum.

Healthy Appalachia Institute Next Steps:

As this program unfolds, we aim to better understand how integrating nutrition education with physical activity enhances students’ engagement, and whether this program leads to improved dietary habits and overall well-being. Refining and expanding the program could help establish long-term healthy behaviors among wide groups of middle school students in Southwest Virginia.

We invite you to revisit this page as this project

is updated and as the evaluation

of the project continues

Evidence from Across Appalachia

Barriers to Healthy Eating Among High School Youth in Rural Appalachia: A Qualitative Study

This study explores the challenges adolescents face in maintaining healthy diets, highlighting cultural norms, school nutrition policies, and rural environmental factors.

Findings of a Multicomponent School Health Intervention in Rural Appalachia: The Greenbrier CHOICES Project

A comprehensive intervention aimed at influencing adolescents’ physical activity and dietary behaviors through school, community, and healthcare components.

Project Updates

May 2025 – July 2025

IRB Approval & Program Readiness – UVA Wise maintained compliance with its existing IRB approval (IRB-SBS Protocol #6998), ensuring all pilot activities adhered to approved ethical standards. The Eat Smart and Play Strong pilot study was completed in May with 91 fifth- and eighth-grade students, including detailed data collection on physical activity, nutrition knowledge, and classroom engagement. Research assistants conducted 10 structured classroom observations, and baseline nutrition data was gathered from all students to serve as a benchmark for fall comparisons. These efforts completed the pilot phase and established readiness for full rollout at LF Addington Middle School in late August.

Curriculum Development & Training – Significant curriculum revisions were made this quarter to align with the new 45-minute PE schedule beginning in the fall. The original 10 lessons were reorganized into 19 shorter sessions, with improvements in pacing, nutrition content delivery, and student engagement strategies. A new module linking food choices to mental health was also introduced. Teacher feedback led to simplifying lesson structures, reducing complex peer-driven activities, and adopting a more teacher-led model to maximize active time. Pilot data revealed meaningful improvements in student physical activity, including a statistically significant increase in Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET) values and higher average minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (32 minutes per class compared to 29 minutes at baseline). These findings informed refinements to boost both instructional clarity and health outcomes.

Challenges & Adjustments – A major challenge this quarter was the shift from 90-minute to 45-minute PE periods, requiring a full restructuring of lesson plans while balancing instructional depth and active engagement. Uncertainty around finalized fall PE schedules also complicated planning for consistent classroom visits and data collection. Despite these hurdles, strong collaboration with PE teachers and continued guidance from program specialist Dr. Cody Sanders ensured lesson plans were effectively adapted to new time constraints. A meeting with PE teachers is planned to finalize fall schedules, paving the way for smooth implementation and reliable data tracking in the next phase.

February 2025 – April 2025

IRB Approval & Program Readiness – Program rollout began at LF Addington Middle School with 91 participating 5th and 8th grade students, 37 of whom provided consent for data collection. Initial baseline assessments were completed with students in 5th–7th grades, capturing nutrition knowledge and physical activity data to inform pilot evaluation.

Curriculum Development & Training – Weekly classroom observations were conducted by the project lead and two student research assistants, documenting lesson delivery using structured observation tools. Feedback gathered from PE teachers highlighted the need to simplify nutrition terminology, adjust activity pacing, and prepare for a shift in fall scheduling from 90-minute blocks to daily 45-minute sessions. Plans are underway to revise curriculum materials over the summer, including simplifying technical language, modifying lesson structure, and adapting content to the new school schedule. Teachers expressed strong support for the program and emphasized its value in integrating physical activity with nutrition education.

Challenges & Adjustments – Scheduling logistics were a significant hurdle due to the research team’s academic obligations and the limited availability of student assistants. These were addressed through careful coordination and a rotating observation schedule, with future plans to recruit additional support. Limited class time emerged as a challenge for delivering the full range of activities, prompting considerations for streamlining lesson content. Feedback from baseline and pilot data is actively guiding ongoing adjustments to enhance clarity, feasibility, and alignment with instructional time constraints.

November 2024 – January 2025

IRB Approval & Program Readiness – The Eat Smart and Play Strong program secured institutional review board (IRB) approval, finalizing its study design and consent process. Strong departmental support, along with assistance from the grant office and UVA Wise Printing Office, helped prepare instructional materials, including the program handbook and activity/food cards.

Curriculum Development & Training – The finalized Program Handbook included structured lesson plans integrating nutrition and physical activity. PE teachers and student research assistants participated in multiple training sessions to ensure smooth program implementation and data collection.

Program Handbook Online Link

Challenges & Adjustments – Weather-related school closures and delays in printing instructional materials impacted timelines. Technical barriers in setting up fitness trackers required additional effort due to software access limitations and space constraints.