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Health promotion intervention in low socioeconomic kindergarten children

Dan Nemet1, Dganit Geva, Alon Eliakim

  • 1Child Health and Sports Center, Pediatric Department, Meir Medical Center, Kfar-Saba, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. dnemet@gmail.com

The Journal of Pediatrics
|January 20, 2011
PubMed

Insights

A school-based nutrition and physical activity intervention improved kindergarteners' knowledge, preferences, and fitness, and reduced overweight prevalence, though not body mass index changes.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Nutrition
  • Childhood Obesity Prevention
  • School Health Programs

Background:

  • Childhood obesity is a significant public health concern, particularly in low socioeconomic populations.
  • Early intervention is crucial for establishing healthy habits.
  • Kindergarten is a key setting for implementing health promotion strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate a school-based intervention's impact on nutrition and physical activity knowledge, preferences, anthropometrics, and fitness in low socioeconomic kindergarteners.
  • To assess the intervention's effect on overweight and obesity rates.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective, randomized controlled trial involving 725 children (ages 3.8-6.8 years).
  • Intervention group received a year-long combined dietary-behavioral-physical activity program delivered by teachers.
  • Control group received standard curriculum.

Main Results:

  • The intervention group showed significant improvements in nutrition knowledge, physical activity knowledge, and fitness.
  • A greater decrease in the percentage of overweight children was observed in the intervention group (-31.9%) compared to controls (-17.5%).
  • No significant between-group differences in body mass index changes were found.

Conclusions:

  • A kindergarten-level dietary and physical activity intervention effectively enhanced health knowledge, preferences, and fitness.
  • The intervention contributed to a reduction in the prevalence of overweight children.
  • This program shows potential for childhood obesity prevention and health promotion.
Abstract

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