sealPurdue News
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May 31, 2002

Foods and nutrition researchers seek middle school girls for study

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University's School of Consumer and Family Sciences is looking for young volunteers to help evaluate a new national science and health unit for middle school students.

The survey is being conducted by researchers in the Department of Foods and Nutrition. To be eligible, female students must be entering the sixth grade at Klondike Middle School or Happy Hollow Elementary School in West Lafayette, Tecumseh Middle School in Lafayette, or Frankfort Middle School in Frankfort.

Volunteers will visit the Purdue campus in West Lafayette once each summer for the next three years to have a series measurements taken, including bone density, lactose digestion, dietary intake and physical activity assessments. Transportation to and from Purdue can be provided, and parents are welcome to observe the sessions. Students of Asian and Hispanic heritage are of special interest for the study.

The research is being funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Data gathered from volunteers will be used evaluate the effectiveness of a new middle school science and health unit being implemented in sixth grade classrooms around the country beginning next fall.

Volunteers will be paid $150 for their participation. Interested volunteers can pick up or drop off registration packets at their participating middle schools or at the following locations: Southside Community Center in Lafayette, the YMCA in Frankfort and the Purdue University Department of Foods and Nutrition in West Lafayette.

All eligible girls and their parents are invited to attend an ice cream party on Friday, June 14, at 7 p.m. at the Southside Community Center, 330 Fountain St., Lafayette. Researchers are holding optional information meetings for parents at the West Lafayette Public Library at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 8, and again at 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 15.

For more information on the study, contact site coordinator Martha Gipson at (765) 494-8186, gipsonm@cfs.purdue.edu.

CONTACT: Martha Gipson, (765) 494-8186, gipsonm@cfs.purdue.edu.

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu


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