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July 2026 – By Paul Sacher, PhD RD – one of the most rewarding things about creating MEND is seeing the program continue to evolve and create impact in communities years later.
Recently, Sentara Health’s Health Impact & Engagement team delivered a MEND pilot at Seatack Elementary, a Title I school in Virginia Beach, VA bringing together families, schools, community partners, nutrition education, and physical activity.
What stands out to me is that this wasn’t simply a program delivered in a classroom. It was built around real-world experiences, with local food partners, fitness partners, caregivers, and children learning and practicing healthy habits together.
The pilot produced encouraging early results, including a statistically significant reduction in screen time of more than eight hours per week, alongside positive trends in physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption.
Families and parents highlighted their successes when asked with comments like “My son makes healthier choices since attending. I think it was a nice & fun way to help the kids learn.” and “Mend was a terrific program. Informative, interactive, FUN!”
For those of us who have spent our careers working in obesity in childhood and behavior change, these are exactly the kinds of practical lifestyle changes that can help create healthier trajectories for children and families.
Congratulations to Dr. Francine Pearce and the Sentara team for their leadership, and to the families who committed their time and energy throughout the program.
It is encouraging to see MEND continuing to support communities in ways that are locally relevant, family centered, and evidence informed. So pleased that the Sentara team will continue to impact their communities and families in such a positive way.