Graduate students in the College of Public Health developed health intervention projects that focused on reductions in childhood obesity through behavior change counseling. Students worked with organizations in Muscatine such as the YMCA, Sunset Park After School Program, and local preschools.

Part of these interventions, including training on motivational interviewing, explores and improves caregiver’s motivation to make healthy changes to the family and children’s environment by building relationships and rapport with parents, clarifying values, and moving families toward action. This work complemented the work being completed by the Blue Zones Project™ in Muscatine, a state-wide effort which seeks to make the healthy choice the easy choice in communities through permanent changes to the environment, policy and social networks.