Childhood Obesity Project

Iowa Heart Center Foundation’s Childhood Obesity Prevention (COP) project focuses on cardiac risk factors, nutritional education, and the role of increasing activity in rural Iowa middle school children to combat the development of heart disease.

Education sessions may be provided by Iowa Heart Center Foundation's professional staff or volunteers as chosen by each school's health and/or physical education teacher.

Iowa schools that have previously participated in the COP program include Adel Desoto Minburn (ADM), Creston, Albia, Jefferson-Scranton, Urbandale, Saydel, Wayne County, Chariton, Seymour, Lineville-Clio and Waukee.

Childhood Obesity Updates

  • Adel-Desoto-Minburn Schools

    Mitch Krumwiede, a seventh-grade teacher at Adel-Desoto-Minburn Schools, said it was nice to have Cindy Conroy’s expertise in nutrition in his class. The information she shared on making more healthful food choices was particularly relevant in today’s hectic lifestyle. “When you have someone who specializes in it, the kids are going to listen to that person more than me.”

  • Creston Community Schools

    Dick Bergstrom, high school teacher at Creston Community Schools, stated “Cindy did a great job discussing portion control and sugary drinks. The kids retained good information. As she stated, it’s all about awareness, and I’m sure it opened a lot of eyes.”

  • Albia Community Schools (Spring 2014)

    During this program at Albia Schools, “Promise” cards from twenty 3rd grade students were collected related to healthy eating. Here are some of the promises kids made.

    • I am not going to start to smoking.
    • I will eat more fruits and vegetables.
    • I will eat less ice cream.
    • I will look for sugar on the label.
    • I will drink more milk than pop or juice.
    • I will eat healthier food like not eating that much sugar.