BIENESTAR - A DIABETES RISK-FACTOR PREVENTION PROGRAM

The Bienester Health Program, a diabetes risk-factor prevention pilot program, targeted fourth grade Mexican American children. The primary goals are to describe the two, established risk factors for diabetes - overweight and dietary fats. Since the health program is bused on Soc ial Cognitive Theory on social systems structure, and on culturally re levant mir material , ii considers the child's social systems un both its health program and process evaluation. Learning, activities were d eveloped for four social systems that potentially influence children's health behaviors (parent, classroom,, school cafeteria, and after-sch ool care). Preliminary results show that the Bienestar Health Program significantly decreased dietary fat, increased fruit and vegetable ser vings, and increased diabetes health knowledge.