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Type of kindergarten and other potential determinants of overweight in pre-school children

K Rapp1, K H Schick, H Bode

  • 1Department of Epidemiology, University of Ulm, Heimholtzstrasse 22, D-89081 Ulm, Germany. kilian.rapp@medizin.uni-ulm.de

Public Health Nutrition
|October 21, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Kindergarten type and duration of care did not influence childhood overweight. Factors like television habits, breastfeeding, and ethnicity were more significant predictors of obesity in preschoolers.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric obesity research
  • Early childhood development studies
  • Public health and nutrition

Background:

  • Childhood overweight is a growing public health concern.
  • Understanding factors influencing obesity in early childhood is crucial for prevention strategies.
  • Kindergarten settings may play a role in children's health behaviors and weight status.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between different kindergarten types (based on care duration and food availability) and the development of overweight in preschool children.
  • To identify other potential determinants of overweight in early childhood.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 2140 children in Stuttgart, Germany.
  • Data collected via parental questionnaires and medical records.
  • Measured height, weight, and assessed changes in relative Body Mass Index (BMI) position between ages 4 and 6.

Main Results:

  • No significant association was found between kindergarten type and overweight prevalence or BMI changes.
  • Positive associations with overweight included parental BMI and television watching duration.
  • Negative associations included maternal education and breastfeeding duration.
  • Non-German children showed a substantially higher prevalence of overweight compared to German children.

Conclusions:

  • Kindergarten characteristics do not appear to influence the development of overweight in preschool children.
  • Television viewing, breastfeeding, and ethnic background are important factors to consider in childhood obesity.
  • Further research is needed on the high overweight prevalence in ethnic minority children.
Abstract

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