Planet Health, developed for middle school students, in the United States, has an immediate goal of reducing television viewing time with the long-range goal of preventing unhealthy weight gain (Gortmaker and others 1999). Teachers incorporate messages about reducing television watching, nutritious, and increasing fitness into mathematics, social studies, science, and language arts lessons. Fitness units and periodic "FitChecks" during physical education complement the classroom lessons. Teacher training, student self-assessment using graphs, and student reflection about enjoyable activities that could replace at least a portion of the time they spend watching television are key elements. This program has reduced television watching and weight in girls (Gortmaker and others 1999). Because the program is integrated into existing classes, its cost is minimal.
