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Health promotion intervention in Arab-Israeli kindergarten children
Dan Nemet1, Dganit Geva, Michal Pantanowitz
1Child Health and Sports Center, Department of Pediatrics, Meir Medical Center, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Kfar-Saba, Israel. dnemet@gmail.com
Insights
A school-based health promotion intervention significantly improved nutrition and physical activity knowledge, preferences, and fitness in Arab-Israeli kindergarten children, reducing body mass index (BMI). This program offers a vital approach for childhood obesity prevention in minority populations.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Public Health
- Childhood Obesity Research
- Health Promotion Interventions
Background:
- Obesity is a prevalent chronic disease in children, disproportionately affecting minority and low socioeconomic status populations.
- Arab-Israelis represent the largest minority group in Israel, highlighting a need for targeted health initiatives.
- Early childhood is a critical period for establishing lifelong health behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Arab-Israeli kindergarten children.
- To evaluate the impact of a school-based health promotion intervention on nutrition and physical activity.
- To assess changes in anthropometric measures and fitness levels following the intervention.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study comparing 154 children in an intervention group with 188 control children.
- The intervention involved a year-long program focused on diet, behavior, and physical activity, delivered by kindergarten teachers.
- Data collected included nutrition and physical activity knowledge/preferences, anthropometric measurements, and fitness tests.
Main Results:
- The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 28.9% among the study population.
- The intervention group showed significant improvements in nutrition and physical activity knowledge and preferences compared to controls.
- Intervention participants demonstrated enhanced fitness, reduced body mass index (BMI) and BMI percentile, and favorable height gain.
Conclusions:
- A kindergarten-based dietary and physical activity intervention effectively reduced BMI and improved health knowledge, preferences, and fitness in young children.
- School-based programs delivered by teachers can play a crucial role in the health promotion and obesity management of minority children.
- Early intervention strategies are essential for preventing and treating childhood obesity in diverse communities.
Background:
Obesity is the most common chronic pediatric disease in westernized societies, with minorities and children from low socioeconomic status being mostly affected. Arab-Israelis are the largest minority population in Israel.
Objective:
The aim of this study is to examine the prevalence of obesity and to prospectively study the effects of a health promotion, school-based intervention on nutrition and physical activity knowledge and preferences, anthropometric measures, and fitness in Arab-Israeli kindergarten children.
Participants:
One hundred fifty-four children completed a school year with combined dietary-behavioral-physical activity intervention and were compared with 188 controls (age 4.2-6.5 years).
Results:
The prevalence of overweight and obesity among Arab-Israeli kindergarten children was 28.9%. Compared with control, the intervention led to a significantly greater (control vs. intervention, respectively, p < 0.05) increase in nutrition knowledge (51.2+/- 1.5%-48.9 +/- 1.6% vs. 48.9 +/- 1.6%-85.9 +/- 1.4%) and preferences (47.4 +/- 1.5%-47.7 +/- 1.6% vs. 45.2 +/- 1.8%-87.1 +/- 1.4%), increase in physical activity knowledge (47.2 +/- 1.3%-47.0 +/- 1.7% vs. 49.2 +/- 1.7%-90.8 +/- 1.3%) and preferences (52.3 +/- 1.3%-54.2 +/- 1.8% vs. 56.2 +/- 1.4%-92.8 +/- 1.0%), and improvement in fitness (-10.2 +/- 1.6 vs. 11.6 +/- 1.4 shuttle run laps). The intervention was associated with favorable changes in height gain (5.0 +/- 0.1 vs. 6.2 +/- 0.1cm), body mass index (BMI-0.41 +/- 0.06 vs. -0.71 +/- 0.06 kg/m2) and BMI percentile (-10.0 +/- 1.3% vs. -16.2 +/- 1.2%) in the control and intervention groups, respectively.
Conclusions:
A kindergarten dietary-physical activity intervention applied by the kindergarten teachers led to a decrease in BMI, BMI percentile, improved nutrition and physical activity knowledge and preferences, and improved fitness. Such programs may play important role in health promotion, prevention, and treatment of childhood obesity in minority communities from early age.
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