The Nationwide Childrens Hospital Fitness And Nutrition (F.A.N.) Club was established in 2008 as part of the hospitals pediatric obesity initiative to help 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students experience fun activities to keep them fit and healthy through physical activity and education. The after-school and summer F.A.N. Club includes activities such as strength training, games, flag football, stretching, cardio-aerobic activities and nutrition and there is no cost to club participants.
The first year analysis of the two F.A.N. Club sites at Livingston Elementary School and Lincoln Park Elementary School shows that on average the 44 participants maintained their Body Mass Index (BMI) and BMI percentile during the program. They increased their number of sit-ups by approximately 30 percent and their aerobic capacity by approximately 100 percent. Participants were able to better identify healthy food choices and they improved their overall knowledge about good nutrition (e.g. appropriate servings of each food group). They also reported improved physical functioning (e.g. easier to do sports, exercise, run) and more social support regarding activity (e.g. participating in more physical activities/having fun with friends while being physically active).
A collaboration has resulted in Mount Carmel College of Nursing securing grant funding and providing instructors to establish a third F.A.N. Club site at Avondale Elementary School beginning this school year. Nationwide Childrens Hospital is committed to expanding community collaborations and growing the F.A.N. Club in Columbus Public Schools.
Nationwide Childrens Hosptial F.A.N. Club Analysis Shows Promising Results
September 28, 2009
About Nationwide Children's Hospital
Named to the Top 10 Honor Roll on U.S. News & World Report’s 2023-24 list of “Best Children’s Hospitals,” Nationwide Children’s Hospital is one of America’s largest not-for-profit free-standing pediatric health care systems providing unique expertise in pediatric population health, behavioral health, genomics and health equity as the next frontiers in pediatric medicine, leading to best outcomes for the health of the whole child. Integrated clinical and research programs, as well as prioritizing quality and safety, are part of what allows Nationwide Children’s to advance its unique model of care. Nationwide Children’s has a staff of more than 14,000 that provides state-of-the-art wellness, preventive and rehabilitative care and diagnostic treatment during more than 1.7 million patient visits annually. As home to the Department of Pediatrics of The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Nationwide Children’s physicians train the next generation of pediatricians and pediatric specialists. The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital is one of the Top 10 National Institutes of Health-funded free-standing pediatric research facilities. More information is available at NationwideChildrens.org.