[Recruitment of Families at Risk for Obesity: The Kindergarten Experience]

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Obesity Research
• Public Health Interventions
• Early Childhood Education

Background:

• Childhood obesity is a significant public health concern with long-term implications.
• Obese children frequently transition to obese adults, necessitating early intervention.
• Kindergarten settings offer a potential venue for reaching preschool-aged children and their families.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the kindergarten setting as an effective access point for universal and selective obesity prevention programs.
• To assess the impact of universal prevention measures on risk and protective factors related to childhood obesity.
• To identify barriers to recruitment for selective prevention programs targeting preschool children and parents.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial was implemented to assess universal prevention effects.
• The study aimed to recruit participants for a selective prevention program within the kindergarten setting.
• Data collection focused on risk and protective factors associated with childhood overweight.

Main Results:

• The universal prevention measures demonstrated observable effects on risk and protective factors.
• Recruitment for the selective prevention program was unsuccessful.
• Challenges in recruitment may stem from biased risk perception and high prevention self-efficacy among parents.

Conclusions:

• Kindergarten settings present a viable, though not universally successful, platform for childhood obesity prevention.
• Barriers to selective program uptake require further investigation and innovative strategies.
• Alternative approaches are needed to effectively engage parents in targeted obesity prevention efforts.