•
PORTLAND, Maine

Rebecca Boulos publishes article in 'Childhood Obesity'

Rebecca J. Boulos, M.P.H., Ph.D., assistant clinical professor in the School of Community and Population Health, co-authored an article in Childhood Obesity titled, “Validation of the Out-of-School-Time Snacks, Beverages, and Physical Activity Questionnaire (OST-SBPA).”

Nationwide, nearly 1 percent of youth ages 6–11 years, and nearly 21 percent of youth ages 12–19 years, are classified as obese. Since tens of millions of children participate in structured OST programs, these environments have the potential to positively impact a large segment of the U.S. youth population.

The article describes the process for validating the OST-SBPA, an online questionnaire administered to OST program leaders, designed to measure programs’ nutrition and physical activity environments.

Findings demonstrate that this brief questionnaire can be used to assess nutrition and physical activity offerings in OST programs. By assessing these weight-related characteristics of OST environments, researchers can continue to explore effective childhood obesity prevention strategies in OST programs, and program leaders can continue to ensure they are offering a healthful environment for youth.  

Boulos co-authored the study with colleagues from Tufts University’s Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy and ChildObesity180: Christina D. Economos, Ph.D.; Miriam E. Nelson, Ph.D.; Jennifer M. Sacheck, Ph.D.; Sara C. Folta, Ph.D.; Stephanie Anzman-Frasca, Ph.D.; Alyssa Koomas, M.S., M.P.H., RD; and Teresa Dicolen, M.P.H., CHES.

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.