Why CATCH?
For over 25 years CATCH has been teaching kids how to be healthy for a lifetime
CATCH has turned the tide against childhood obesity by transforming schools and after-school centers into health-promoting environments. The core elements of CATCH include: physical activity programming, nutrition and other
health-related education, and healthier food choices, for preschool – middle school aged children. Backed
by over 25 years of hard evidence, CATCH is proven to work, is sustainable, and gives an enormous
return on investment. (see graph below)
Today, CATCH school, after school and early childhood implementations can be found in all 50 states,
Canada and US Department of Defense Schools around the World.
Ongoing initiatives around the world include India, Australia, Italy, Germany, Japan, United Kingdom, Hong Kong and South America just to name a few.
The CATCH Programs are established both nationally and internationally and growing!
CATCH Research
CATCH is Cost-Effective
Many programs support children’s physical
activity and nutrition. But CATCH is proven
to prevent and reduce child obesity, and has
been cited as the most cost effective school
based program to do so
“We spend billions on health care, but
very little to instruct American children to
become healthy. To become a personally
responsible adult, children need parents
and teachers to instruct them about
health. An annual investment of $8.67 per
child, less than many meals eaten out, is
an investment in America’s future.”
Steven H. Kelder, PhD
Co-Director, Michael & Susan Dell Center
Cost Analysis
U
.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics 2011–
Average household costs per child age 6-8. Annual CATCH expense based on
a 3-5 year implementation average for a K-8 school.
