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Recently, as I browsed the latest issue of BMC Public Health, I noted this article about using Girl Scout Junior Troops as a mechanism for promoting healthy lifestyle choices in kids.
The study, done by Kansas State University researchers, used a group allocation design to study the effects of a 3-part intervention on body mass index z-scores in a total of 76 4th & 5th grade girls. The intervention was based on Social Cognitive Theory and included an interactive educational component conducted by troop leaders, implementation of certain policies put in place during troop meetings to encourage healthy food choices & activities, and badge assignments. In addition to measuring BMI, they also used questionnaires given to both kids and parents to assess home behaviors & family cohesion. |
They did not find that the intervention resulted in a significant difference between the two groups with respect to changing BMI z-scores. My theory on why they didn’t find a difference? Those GIRL SCOUT COOKIES! They did the study from October 2007 – April 2008 – man, girl scout cookie season is right at the end of that! How do you listen to healthy eating lectures and then have to go sell cookies? In the control group, out of 28 meetings, cakes & cookies were offered in 23 of those meetings; in the intervention group, cakes & cookies were only offered in 2 meetings. I’m telling ya – it’s the cookies!
I’m joking of course, but seriously, I did wonder if the publication timing of this article was intentional given it’s girl scout cookie time now 
(well, at least for us here in Middle Tennessee).
