(P11-028-25) Protocol for the Integrated Childhood Activity and Nutrition (ICAN) Study

Objectives: During summer, children—especially from low-income settings—may lose up to 30% of school-year learning and face a higher risk of obesity, partly due to limited educational and structured physical activity and nutrition programming. The objectives of this integrated (Research and Education) study are: 1) to test the effects of an 8-week summer wellness program aimed at promoting health behaviors and preventing learning loss, and 2) to educate college-aged students on social and emotional learning (SEL) and holistic approaches to supporting childhood health.

Methods: This waitlist randomized control trial will recruit children aged 6-11 years from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-eligible households in a central Illinois school district. Treatment group participants (N = 50) will be enrolled in the Integrated Childhood Activity and Nutrition (ICAN) program, while the Control group (N = 50) will not participate until the subsequent year. The ICAN curriculum will focus on physical activity, nutrition education, SEL, and life skill enrichment. Additionally, a lutein-rich (6mg/day) snack will be provided daily, as lutein benefits childhood cognition and academic achievement. Following consent, data collection for both groups will occur simultaneously at baseline (May-June) and follow-up (July-August). Research outcome measures include academic achievement, cognitive control, macular carotenoids, physical fitness, physical activity, habitual dietary intake, height, and weight. To meet the education aims, trained undergraduate and graduate students will be recruited as ICAN program counselors. In the preceding spring semester, prospective counselors will take a special topic course on pedagogical approaches to employing SEL in nutrition and physical activity education. The education outcome measures include children’s SEL skills and physical and nutrition literacy.

Results: N/A

Conclusions: The successful implementation of the special topic course and the intervention will provide insight into sustainable strategies to prevent summer learning loss and excessive weight gain among children affected by poverty.

Funding Sources: This work is supported by the United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture 2024-68015-42365.