(Formerly called The Child and Adolescent Trial for Cardiovascular Health)
Age Range: 5 to 10
Searching for new and innovative ways to teach children how to change their behavior regarding diet and physical activity, a team of academic experts led by researchers at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center in 1987 created the Child and Adolescent Trial for Cardiovascular Health (CATCH.)
Developed under the auspices of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), CATCH is targeted at elementary schools and is unique in that it includes classroom curriculum components, as well as physical education, school food service, and family components. The intent is to improve environmental influences to support behavior change. The program emphasizes reduced consumption of high-fat foods and increased physical activity, both inside and outside of school. Joining with the University of Texas researchers were experts from Tulane University, the University of California, San Diego, and the University of Minnesota
