TSET HYI's Swap Up Campaign

Oklahoma has the eighth highest youth obesity rate in the country, with an estimated 150,000 children who are classified as overweight or obese. Obesity prevalence is significantly higher among those living in rural counties, where Indigenous groups are the largest population of color. Though most teens want to be and feel healthy, our research has found that they often don’t consider how their food choices impact their health. Instead, they gravitate toward foods their peers eat, taste good, or that are cheap and convenient.

Studies have found that natural foods are linked to higher rates of happiness, and kids who eat more fruits and vegetables are more likely to do better in school. Meanwhile processed foods are linked to higher rates of anxiety, depression, and stress that can affect focus and memory and are shown to be associated with poorer attention and visual learning. However, teens are more likely to appreciate the importance of food choices if they are tied to concrete, immediate effects on their lives. Gaining weight in the future, developing diabetes one day, or just feeling generally better is not motivating or specific enough.

With this information, the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust in Oklahoma hired Rescue Agency, who sought to deliver specific, realistic, and memorable nutrition advice that teens can easily incorporate into their daily lives. The specific goal is to convince teens that swapping a side or snack for a healthier option is not as challenging as changing your entire diet, and it’s worth it to help you feel and perform your best every day.