Nearly 22 percent of elementary school students in Utah are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight, according to the Utah Department of Health. Today, overweight children have about an 80 percent chance of becoming overweight or obese adults. Causes of the increased obesity rates include unhealthy food choices, too little exercise or activity, and unhealthy lifestyle behaviors.
A team of health educators and a registered nurse at SelectHealth along with representatives from the Granite School District designed the STEP Express program specifically for fourth-grade students.
The comprehensive, eight-week program includes easy-to-implement lessons that cover the state core curriculum and assessments that reward student participation. It encourages children to be more active and healthy.
The students also track their physical activity in fitness challenges that complement the Presidential Fitness program. These challenges help them become aware of their fitness levels and learn ways to improve.
View a short video about STEP Express and the success it has had with different schools, teachers, and principals.
Click here to view
This eight-week program contains three parts: