Physical activity to prevent obesity in young children: cluster randomised controlled trial
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John J Reilly1, Louise Kelly, Colette Montgomery
1Division of Developmental Medicine, University of Glasgow, Yorkhill Hospitals, Glasgow G3 8SJ. jjr2y@clinmed.gla.ac.uk
Insights
This study found that a physical activity intervention improved motor skills in young children but did not reduce body mass index (BMI). The 12-month trial involved 545 preschoolers and assessed physical activity and movement skills.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Public Health Interventions
- Childhood Obesity Prevention
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a significant public health concern.
- Early interventions are crucial for establishing healthy habits.
- Physical activity plays a vital role in child development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of a nursery-based physical activity intervention on body mass index (BMI) in preschool children.
- To assess secondary outcomes including physical activity levels, sedentary behavior, and fundamental movement skills.
Main Methods:
- A cluster randomized controlled trial involving 545 children aged 4.2 years across 36 nurseries in Glasgow, Scotland.
- The intervention included an enhanced physical activity program and home-based health education over 24 weeks.
- Body mass index (BMI) standard deviation scores were the primary outcome, with accelerometry and movement skills tests as secondary measures.
Main Results:
- The physical activity intervention did not significantly reduce body mass index (BMI) at 6 or 12 months.
- No significant changes were observed in objectively measured physical activity or sedentary behavior.
- Children in the intervention group demonstrated significantly improved fundamental movement skills at 6-month follow-up.
Conclusions:
- While the intervention effectively enhanced motor skills in young children, it did not lead to a reduction in body mass index (BMI).
- Further research may be needed to identify effective strategies for BMI reduction in early childhood through physical activity.
Objective:
To assess whether a physical activity intervention reduces body mass index in young children.
Design:
Cluster randomised controlled single blinded trial over 12 months.
Setting:
Thirty six nurseries in Glasgow, Scotland.
Participants:
545 children in their preschool year, mean age 4.2 years (SD 0.2) at baseline.
Intervention:
Enhanced physical activity programme in nursery (three 30 minute sessions a week over 24 weeks) plus home based health education aimed at increasing physical activity through play and reducing sedentary behaviour.
Main Outcome Measure:
Body mass index, expressed as a standard deviation score relative to UK 1990 reference data. Secondary measures were objectively measured physical activity and sedentary behaviour; fundamental movement skills; and evaluation of the process.
Results:
Group allocation had no significant effect on the primary outcome measure at six and 12 months or on measures of physical activity and sedentary behaviour by accelerometry. Children in the intervention group had significantly higher performance in movement skills tests than control children at six month follow-up (P=0.0027; 95% confidence interval 0.3 to 1.3) after adjustment for sex and baseline performance.
Conclusions:
Physical activity can significantly improve motor skills but did not reduce body mass index in young children in this trial.
Trial Registration:
Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN36363490.
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