Cook Fresh. Feasibility and Acceptability of Teaching Cooking Skills to Adolescents with Obesity

The prevalence of childhood obesity remains at approximately 18% among adolescents despite stabilization in its rates between 2007 and 2010.1 Adolescent obesity is associated with an increased risk of severe obesity in adulthood and higher prevalence of obesity related comorbidities, particularly cardiovascular disease (CVD), and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (Type 2 DM).2–4 Lifestyle factors play a major role in the development of obesity and its progression to comorbidities such as CVD and Type 2 DM.5–10 Adolescents with obesity frequently display unhealthy eating habits including irregular eating patterns such as skipping breakfast, late-night eating,6 frequent intake of fast food,7 eating in response to emotional issues or boredom, excessive intake of high-sugar beverages,8 inappropriate portion sizes,9 and lacking adequate intake of fruits, vegetables, and nutrients.11 Alterations in various risk factors and/or biomarkers of CVD are evident at an early age in the clinical course of obesity,12–14 but lifestyle interventions based on diet and physical activity have been shown to have favorable effects, both with and without weight reduction.15 The development of cooking skills at an early age may play an important role in promoting a healthy lifestyle, but this has been given limited attention in studies examining the impact of lifestyle approaches in the management and/or prevention of adolescent obesity.16,17 In one study, lack of cooking skills was inversely related to consumption of fruits and vegetables in college students.18 A few studies have also suggested that interventions targeting cooking skills could be an effective strategy to promote healthy eating.19 Cookfresh was designed to study the effect of - as well as feasibility and acceptance of - a community- based cooking skills program, including meal planning and an actual shopping experience, on healthy behavior, quality of life, and health status including Body Mass Index (BMI) and specific biomarkers of cardiometabolic disease.