September 12, 2013

Stella Volpe, PhD, Chair of the Nutrition Sciences Department, was quoted in a Philadelphia Inquirer article on August 23, titled “Five Phila.-area schools to begin wellness program.” The article discussed a new program combining fitness and nutrition that will be offered to five pilot schools in the greater Philadelphia area.

According to the Inquirer article, wellness programs combining both nutrition and fitness are fairly unique. Volpe will be conducting a study of the initiative’s effectiveness in five additional schools in the area that will serve as the control group.

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia will be assisting the schools in recording height, weight, and instances of chronic disease; registered dietitians from Villanova's MacDonald Center for Obesity Prevention and Education will conduct focus groups to measure the children's awareness of health issues and to track their food intake via an online tool filled out by their parents. "What makes this unique," Volpe told the newspaper, "is all these community partners that are involved. It might excite the community more."