Healthy Hydration Pilot in Elementary Schools

Adequate water intake plays an important role in maintaining children's overall health, cognitive performance, fine motor skills and visual attention. It also plays a role in the maintenance of healthy weight. Many children do not consume sufficient water, especially in school. There is also potential that by providing enhanced access to water, there will be corresponding decreases in sugary beverage intake. Sugary beverages have been implicated as major contributors of excessive sugar and calorie intake in children, leading to multiple health concerns, such as type 2 diabetes, overweight and obesity, and dental caries. Schools are an optimal environment to increase children's water intake. Healthy hydration is a priority for Richmond Public School (RPS), as they recently adopted a new hydration policy into their school wellness policy, with hydration stations installed in all RPS schools. The purpose of this study is to determine the feasibility of a school-based hydration intervention. This study will pilot a school-based stakeholder-informed hydration intervention and examine its feasibility and preliminary efficacy.