Background: Some STEM outreach programs connect students to real-world problems and challenge them to work towards solutions. Research shows one-third of children between ages 5-17 in the U.S. are overweight. Socioeconomic status, race, and parental educational attainment all influence this issue as well as living in a rural or urban area. A rural high school STEM outreach program used a social media curriculum focused on healthy lifestyles and measured impact on the health of adolescents from these backgrounds.
Methods: Health screenings and college mentors were provided to 134 adolescents from 26 counties in WV. The social media intervention lasted seven months with participants using near-peer and mentor support to achieve personal health goals set at the initial health screening. The results of pre- and post-intervention health screenings were compared for any changes in health measures by student goal and participation.
Results: BMI decreased significantly in the group of participants who selected a weight loss goal, while those choosing to improve their nutrition significantly increased healthy cholesterol levels.
Conclusions: A positive impact was seen on adolescent health outcomes through linking a high school STEM outreach program with a higher education institution to deliver STEM enrichment curriculum through social media.
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TEAM MEMBERS
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Ann Chester
Author
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Sara Hanks
Author
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Summer Kuhn
Author
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Floyd Jones
Author
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Travis White
Author
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Misty Harris
Author
Citation
DOI
:
10.15695/jo.v1i2.4503
Publication Name:
Journal of STEM Outreach
Volume:
1
Number:
2
Page Number:
1-12
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