Healthy Eating and Active Lifestyle in Adolescents: A Qualitative Study to Prevent/Treat Obesity

Childhood obesity disproportionately affects specific racial and ethnic groups and households with low socioeconomic status. The Alternative Learning Center (ALC) within Rochester School District 535 provides viable educational options for students who are experiencing difficulty in regular educational systems. A greater proportion of students at ALC are ethnic minorities, qualify for free and reduced lunch and receive special education services. The prevalence of obesity in students at ALC is much greater than the national average (50% obese versus 16%). This study sought to understand barriers and facilitators to healthy …