Let's Go!
banner-impact

Publications

  1. Let’s Go!’s Children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Project: Creating Opportunities for a Healthy Lifestyle

    In this White Paper, the authors describe the goals, development and evaluation of Let’s Go!’s Children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Project. The Project successfully increased awareness of the challenges to healthy eating and physical activity faced by children with IDD, and raised expectations regarding the potential and right of children with IDD to be healthy. The Let’s Go! approach for addressing obesity in children with IDD is a promising practice and can serve as a model for other community-based obesity prevention programs seeking to ensure inclusion of children with IDD.

    Link to White Paper:     Children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Project

    Citation:
    Boas D, Vine J, Rogers VW, Walters E. Let’s Go!’s Children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Project. White Paper. 2021, MaineHealth.

  2. Weight management in primary care for children with autism: expert recommendations

    These recommendations were developed to help pediatric providers provide tailored guidance on weight management to children with ASD and their families. The Healthy Weight Research Network, a national research network of pediatric obesity and autism experts funded by the US Health Resources and Service Administration Maternal and Child Health Bureau, developed these recommendations for managing overweight and obesity in children with ASD, which include adaptations to the AAP’s 2007 guidance.

    Link to article:     https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/pediatrics/145/Supplement_1/S126.full.pdf

    Citation:
    Curtin C, Hyman S, Boas D, Hassink S, Broder-Fingert Sarabeth, Ptomey Lauren , Dreyer Gillette M, Fleming R. Weight Management in Primary Care for Children with Autism: Expert Recommendations. Pediatrics 2020; 145; S126.

  3. Using physician champions to extend the reach of the Let’s Go! 5-2-1-0 obesity prevention program in clinical practice

    This report describes implementation of Let’s Go! in primary care offices. The Let’s Go! strategy of engaging and supporting primary care practices resulted in widespread, standardized adoption of recommendations to prevent and treat childhood obesity. This model could be applied to other public health problems requiring broad-based action.

    Link to article: https://knowledgeconnection.mainehealth.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1005&context=jmmc

    Citation: Dedekian M, Vine J, Fanburg J, Schucker, NA, Rogers, W. Using physician champions to extend the reach of the Let's Go! 5-2-1-0 obesity prevention program in clinical practice. Journal of Maine Medical Center. 2019; 1(1): Article 7.

  4. Policies and practices of high-performing Let’s Go! schools

    This study identifies specific program characteristics, policies and practices associated with higher performing Let’s Go! schools in school years 2013-2015. Results indicate that enforced district wellness policies, school wellness teams, and family involvement are crucial components to the success of Let’s Go! schools.

    Link to article: https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/gUX2kwytH9CIWW8gay3K/full

    Citation: Giombi K, Wiecha J, Vine J, Rogers VW. Policies and practices of high-performing Let’s Go! schools. Am J Health Educ. 2018;49(5):280-288.

  5. Smarter Lunchrooms and Let’s Go! Maine – A Perfect Match

    This online article highlights the Smarter Lunchrooms Movement and Let’s Go!’s use of their evidence-based strategies for guiding students to select and consume healthy food choices in schools. In 2016, a total of 169 Let’s Go! schools achieved Smarter Lunchroom recognition.

    Link to article: https://healthy-food-choices-in-schools.extension.org/smarter-lunchrooms-and-lets-go-maine-a-perfect-match/

    Citation: Kessler HL, Vine J. Smarter Lunchrooms and Let’s Go! Maine – A Perfect Match. Healthy Food Choices in Schools. October 6, 2016.

  6. Let's Go! school nutrition workgroups: regional partnerships for improving school meals

    This report outlines best practices and results associated with Let’s Go!’s innovative School Nutrition Workgroup approach. This regional workgroup approach led to 77 schools achieving HealthierUS School Challenge recognition and in school year 2011-2012 aided the implementation of Smarter Lunchrooms practices in 130 schools.

    Link to article: http://www.jneb.org/article/S1499-4046(14)00822-7/abstract?showall=true=

    Citation: Kessler HL, Vine J, Rogers VW. Let's Go! school nutrition workgroups: regional partnerships for improving school meals. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2015;47(3):278-282.

  7. Evaluation of a primary care intervention on body mass index: the Maine Youth Overweight Collaborative

    This study uses a retrospective longitudinal record review to evaluate the impact of the Maine Youth Overweight Collaborative primary care intervention on BMI z-score change among youth in intervention versus control sites. The study found no impact of the intervention on BMI z-scores.

    Link to article: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4382710/

    Citation: Gortmaker SL, Polacsek M, Letourneau L, Rogers VW, Holmberg R, Lombard KA, Fanburg J, Ware J, Orr J. Evaluation of a primary care intervention on body mass index: the Maine Youth Overweight Collaborative. Childhood Obesity. 2015;11(2):187-93.

  8. Sustainability of key Maine Youth Overweight Collaborative improvements: a follow-up study

    This study evaluates the sustainability of the primary care program, the Maine Youth Overweight Collaborative, at seven of the original intervention sites. Many key practice improvements observed in 2009 were sustained or improved three years post-intervention in 2012.

    Link to article: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4120928/

    Citation: Polacsek M, Orr J, O'Brien LM, Rogers VW, Fanburg J, Gortmaker SL. Sustainability of key Maine Youth Overweight Collaborative improvements: a follow-up study. Childhood Obesity. 2014;10(4): 326-333.

  9. Impact of Let’s Go! 5-2-1-0: A community-based, multisetting childhood obesity prevention program.

    This study examines results of a telephone survey conducted with 800 randomly selected parents at three points in time in 12 Maine communities where Let’s Go! strategies were implemented and the 5-2-1-0 message was promoted. Survey results showed improvements from 2007 to 2011 in parents’ awareness of the message and in children’s adherence to recommended behaviors.

    Link to article: https://academic.oup.com/jpepsy/article/38/9/1010/958053/Impact-of-Let-s-Go-5-2-1-0-A-Community-Based

    Citation: Rogers VW, Hart PH, Motyka E, Rines EN, Vine J, Deatrick DA. Impact of Let’s Go! 5-2-1-0: A community-based, multisetting childhood obesity prevention program. J Pediatr Psychol. 2013; 38(9):1010-1020.

  10. CDC Grand Rounds: Childhood Obesity in the United States

    This report is based on a grand rounds presentation at the CDC and summarizes interventions showing evidence of improving environments that can lead to lower rates of obesity, including the Maine Youth Overweight Collaborative (MYOC) and Let’s Go!. Let’s Go! used the lessons learned and tools and resources developed in MYOC health care practices and took the 5-2-1-0 message to additional community settings, such as schools, and child care and after school programs.

    Link to article: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6002a2.htm

    Citation: Centers for Disease C, Prevention. CDC grand rounds: childhood obesity in the United States. MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report. Jan 21 2011;60(2):42-46. Link to CDC Grand Rounds presentation by VW Rogers: The Maine experience. Let’s Go!

  11. Impact of a primary care intervention on physician practice and patient and family behavior: keep ME Healthy—the Maine Youth Overweight Collaborative.

    This study assesses a pediatric primary care-based intervention in clinical decision support and family management of obesity risk behaviors over an 18-month period (2004-2006) with 12 intervention sites located throughout Maine. Study results indicate large changes in clinical practice during the intervention: increases in assessment of Body Mass Index (BMI), use of the 5-2-1-0 behavioral screening tool, and weight classification. Parent surveys indicated higher rates of counseling for 5-2-1-0 targets in intervention versus control sites.

    Link to article: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/123/Supplement_5/S258.full

    Citation: Polacsek M, Orr J, Letourneau L, Rogers V, Holmberg R, O'Rourke K., . . . Gortmaker S L. Impact of a primary care intervention on physician practice and patient and family behavior: keep ME Healthy—the Maine Youth Overweight Collaborative. Pediatrics. 2009;123 Suppl 5:S258-S266.

  12. 5-2-1-0 goes to school: a pilot project testing the feasibility of schools adopting and delivering healthy messages during the school day.

    This study details a one-year pilot project during 2006-2007 where nine schools in southern Maine were provided with resource toolkits to promote healthy eating and physical activity using the 5-2-1-0 message. Evaluation results showed high satisfaction with the program among school administrators, high utilization of the tools among teachers, and an overall positive response among students.

    Link to article: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/123/Supplement_5/S272.full

    Citation: Rogers VW, Motyka E.  5-2-1-0 goes to school: a pilot project testing the feasibility of schools adopting and delivering healthy messages during the school day. Pediatrics. 2009;123 Suppl 5:S272-6.