Topic: Obesity, Nutrition/Diet, Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior
Target Population: Families
Sector: Community-Based, Medical Setting
This program is for families.
5-4-3-2-1 Go!®, a public health and community-based initiative, intends to provide families with health messages about eating healthy and living an active lifestyle.
The 5-4-3-2-1 Go! program was implemented in communities in Chicago, and parents within these communities were randomized to receive one brief counseling session about the core messages of the initiative or no counseling. Parents were surveyed at baseline and 1 year after their initial survey. Parents who received the brief counseling consumed significantly more fruits and vegetables compared to parents who did not. No significant effects were observed for water consumption, low-fat dairy consumption, screen time, or physical activity in parents, and no effects were observed in children's behaviors. Another study assigned medical residents to receive brief online training about the initiative or receive no training. Those who received the training were encouraged to discuss the program goals with parents of their youth patients. Four weeks after their visits, patients were interviewed to examine whether the training medical residents received led to discussions about the initiative in the clinic and, in turn, influenced families' behaviors. Patients of residents who received the training reported significantly greater consumption of water and fruits and vegetables and increases in physical activity and decreases in TV viewing when compared to patients of residents who did not receive training. No effects were observed for the consumption of low-fat dairy products or soda.
5-4-3-2-1 Go! is a public education message that provides families and children with recommendations for how to strive for a healthy lifestyle. The 5-4-3-2-1 Go! initiative involves community youth and partners who deliver the program's core messages via various channels, such as public service announcements or games taught by high school volunteers to grade-school children. The program's core messages include the following:
The 5-4-3-2-1 Go! initiative was developed by the Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children in 2004 and implemented in Chicago in 2006. It was launched as a mass-media campaign in 2009 and refreshed in 2018. Since it was launched, staff from over 1,200 community-based organizations have been trained to disseminate the program messages, which have reached millions of people in communities around Chicago.
Any individuals who work in settings that serve youth can implement this program, and these facilitators include individuals in the community, physicians, YMCA staff, or others who work in private and public sector organizations that serve youth. Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children staff lead training sessions for program facilitators. Specific details about training were not located. For more information about training, please use the details in the Contact section.
Considerations for implementing this program include understanding that the program has only been delivered in Chicago; securing suitable facilitators; ensuring facilitators complete training; and understanding funds may be needed to promote the program through distributing posters to local physicians' offices, developing public service announcements for local television stations, and attending community and school events to discuss the campaign.
The Clearinghouse can help address these considerations. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu
If you are interested in implementing 5-4-3-2-1 Go!, the Clearinghouse is interested in helping you!
Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu
Once this program has been implemented in a community, the campaign is meant to be ongoing. Time to complete program activities will vary.
Information about implementation costs was not located.
To move 5-4-3-2-1 Go! to the Effective category on the Clearinghouse Continuum of Evidence at least one external evaluation must be conducted that demonstrates sustained, positive outcomes. This study must be conducted independently of the program developer.
The Clearinghouse can help you develop an evaluation plan to ensure the program components are meeting your goals. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu
Contact the Clearinghouse with any questions regarding this program.
Phone: 1-877-382-9185 Email: Clearinghouse@psu.edu
You may also contact the Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children by mail 225 E. Chicago Ave., Box #157, Chicago, IL 60611, phone 1-312-227-7100, or email info@clocc.net
Evans, W. D., Christoffel, K. K., Necheles, J., Becker, A. B., & Snider, J. (2011). Outcomes of the 5-4-3-2-1 Go! childhood obesity community trial. American Journal of Health Behavior, 35(2), 189-198. https://doi.org/10.5993/AJHB.35.2.6
Stahl, C. E., Necheles, J. W., Mayefsky, J. H., Wright, L. K., & Rankin, K. M. (2011). 5-4-3-2-1 go! coordinating pediatric resident education and community health promotion to address the obesity epidemic in children and youth. Clinical Pediatrics, 50(3), 215-224. https://doi.org/10.1177/0009922810385106
Bejster, M., Cygan, H., Stock, J., & Ashworth, J. (2020). Engaging the school community in a nutrition and physical activity program: the role of the 21st-century school nurse. NASN School Nurse, 35(5), 260-265.
Bejster, M., Cygan, H., Stock, J., & Ashworth, J. (2022). A school wellness partnership to address childhood obesity. Progress in Community Health Partnerships, 16(1), 85-91. https://doi.org/10.1353/cpr.2022.0008
Else, V., Chen, Q., Cortez, A. B., & Koebnick, C. (2021). Effectiveness of a family-centered pediatric weight management program integrated in primary care. Permanente Journal, 25(1), 1-1. https://doi.org/10.7812/TPP/20.101
Else, V., Chen, Q., Cortez, A. B., & Koebnick, C. (2022). Sustainability of weight loss from a family-centered pediatric weight management program integrated in primary care. BMC Health Services Research, 22(1), 12-12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-021-07361-9
Evans, W. D., Necheles, J., Longjohn, Matt, & Christoffel, Katherine Kaufer. (2007). The 5-4-3-2-1 go! intervention: Social marketing strategies for nutrition. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 39(2), S55-S59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2006.08.024
Evans, W. D., Wallace, J., & Snider, J. (2015). The 5-4-3-2-1 go! brand to promote nutrition and physical activity: A case of positive behavior change but negative change in beliefs. Journal of Health Communication, 20(5), 512-520. https://doi.org/10.1080/10810730.2014.989344
Sajn, T. M., Andresen, P. A., & Mitchell, J. W. (2020). 5-4-3-2-1 Go! standardizing nutrition and physical activity-related counseling. Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 16(10), e173-e175. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2020.06.026
