CATCH (Coordinated Approach to Child Health)
Seeks to affect children’s attitudes and behaviors towards nutrition and physical activity. In the largest school-based health promotion study that has ever been done in the United States, CATCH was shown to improve children’s food and activity behaviors, increase levels of activity in physical education classes, and reduce the fat content of school lunches.
 The Whole School, The Whole Child
A school that adopts the CATCH program creates an environment that supports the adoption of healthy behaviors. Children not only learn about healthful eating and activity; they get to prepare and sample more healthful food choices. They learn to identify healthful physical activities and get to participate in physical activity that is fun, improves their level of physical fitness, and is intended to promote their interest in being physically active. Children are served more healthful school lunches and they, along with their families, get to try healthier foods and activities together. The healthy CATCH environment can even be extended to after school and community recreation settings. In a CATCH school, students are immersed in an environment that supports and encourages a healthy lifestyle.
A Coordinated Effort for Learning
More and more research suggests links between student health and learning. In an effort to improve the learning performance of children, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed and promotes an 8 component model of coordinated school health. This model seeks to put in place the elements needed to support the adoption of healthy behaviors by students. The 8 components, working in conjunction with one another, can have a greater impact than any of the elements alone.
CATCH directly addresses 4 out of the 8 components in the CDC model- Health Education, Physical Education, Nutritional Services and Family/Community Involvement.
 Obesity Trends in Children
The current trend of limited physical activity has caused a national crisis of overweight and obesity conditions in children. These children then become prime candidates for Type II diabetes, high blood pressure and other major ailments early in life. The CDC published a recent study - U.S. Obesity Trends 1985 - 2008 illustrating the growing problem among the general population (Flash player required). CATCH directly addresses the underlying causes of obesity through increased physical activity and healthly eating.
CATCH and the CATCH Logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of The Regents of the University of California, and licensed by FlagHouse, Inc.
The Flash Fitness, Hearty Heart, Dynamite Diet, Sally Sleuth and Principal Goodheart characters and related elements appearing on the front cover and throughout this publication are copyrights © 2008 of The Regents of the University of California and FlagHouse Inc. All rights reserved.
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