Short- and mid-term effects of a setting based prevention program to reduce obesity risk factors in children: a...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Child Nutrition
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Preschool settings offer a valuable environment for implementing health promotion programs.
• Low-cost, behavior-based interventions are crucial for widespread adoption in early childhood education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a low-cost behavioral prevention program in preschools.
• To assess the long-term impact of the intervention on children's dietary habits and health outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A cluster-randomized controlled trial involving 64 kindergartens across four Bavarian regions.
• Data collected from 1318 and 1340 children at baseline and 18 months post-intervention via parental questionnaires and health examinations.
• Key outcome measures included fruit and vegetable intake, consumption of high-calorie drinks, overweight/obesity status, and motoric development.

Main Results:

• The intervention group showed a significant and sustainable increase in high fruit and vegetable consumption at 6 and 18 months (OR 1.59, 1.48).
• Positive effects were observed across subgroups, including children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and those who were already overweight.
• No statistically significant differences were found in the prevalence of overweight/obesity or motoric testing results between the intervention and control groups.

Conclusions:

• A setting-based, low-cost behavioral intervention can achieve sustainable improvements in fruit and vegetable consumption among young children.
• The program demonstrated effectiveness in vulnerable populations, suggesting potential for targeted public health initiatives.
• Further research may be needed to explore interventions addressing overweight and obesity in this age group.