CATCH is an evidence-based coordinated school health program that teaches children to identify, practice and adopt healthy eating and physical activity behaviors. It results from the largest school-based health promotion study ever funded in the United States and included more than 5,100 students with diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Three of the four states involved in the study have demographics similar to those of New Mexico. Continued research shows that CATCH produces lasting changes in dietary and physical activity behaviors.

CATCH Components

		GO FOR HEALTH, a classroom nutrition curriculum for Kindergarten through 5th grades
		CATCH PE, offering increased physical activity opportunities for K – 8th grades, and in after-school programs
		EAT SMART, encouraging healthy food choices in the school environment
		HOME TEAM letters and activities to inform and involve families

CATCH Schools
To find a school that is participating in CATCH, click here.

To download the CATCH Fact Sheet, click on the graphic above.

Links

New Mexico’s Public Education Department

FlagHouse, the national vendor for CATCH products (click on the CATCH icon)

CATCH tools provided by the University of Texas, Houston

USDA’s My Pyramid 2005, an interactive site describing nutrition guidelines for Americans

Tools to help in the development of local wellness policies

Fit, Health and Ready to Learn, a document that offers guidance on development of a school health policy

2006 Shape of the Nation, a report on the status of physical education in the U.S., prepared by the National Association for Sport & Physical Education

Focus on Childhood Obesity, a project led by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies (on the right side, click on Childhood Obesity)

American Academy of Pediatrics (on the left side, under Children's Health Topics, click on Obesity)

CDC’s Division of Adolescent and School Health

CDC’s Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity

America’s Children: National Health Indicators, 2005