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Evaluation of Nutrition and Physical Activity Policies and Practices in Child Care Centers within Rural Communities
Jaime S Foster1, Dawn Contreras2, Abby Gold3
11 Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Connecticut , Storrs, CT.
Insights
Rural child care centers often fail to implement recommended nutrition and physical activity policies. Addressing gaps in staff training, funding, and parental outreach is crucial for childhood obesity prevention in these communities.
Area of Science:
- Childhood Obesity Prevention
- Public Health Nutrition
- Early Childhood Education Policy
Background:
- Limited research exists on the specific nutrition and physical activity needs of rural child care settings.
- Existing studies primarily focus on urban environments, overlooking unique rural challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess current nutrition and physical activity (PA) practices and policies in rural child care centers serving low-income communities.
- To identify areas needing improvement to support childhood obesity prevention efforts.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study assessed 29 child care centers in low-income rural areas across seven states.
- Data were collected using the validated Early Childhood Program Assessment Tool from the Community Healthy Living Index.
- Benchmarks included Healthy People 2020 and Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recommendations.
Main Results:
- Many centers struggled with consistent implementation (<80%) of nutrition policies, including serving diverse fruits/vegetables and whole grains.
- Significant gaps were observed in limiting saturated fat, healthy celebration guidelines, involving children in meals, and referring families to nutrition assistance.
- Over one-third of centers had limited structured PA, and only 48% participated in the Child and Adult Care Food Program.
Conclusions:
- Rural child care centers face challenges including inadequate parental outreach, staff training, and resources for nutrition and PA.
- These findings highlight critical areas for intervention to support child care centers in low-income rural communities and combat childhood obesity.
Background:
Although some researchers have examined nutrition and physical activity policies within urban child care centers, little is known about the potentially unique needs of rural communities.
Methods:
Child care centers serving preschool children located within low-income rural communities (n = 29) from seven states (Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin) were assessed to determine current nutrition and physical activity (PA) practices and policies. As part of a large-scale childhood obesity prevention project, the Community Healthy Living Index's previously validated Early Childhood Program Assessment Tool was used to collect data. Descriptive statistical analysis was conducted to identify high-priority areas. Healthy People 2020 and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' recommendations for nutrition and PA policies in child care centers were used as benchmarks.
Results:
Reports of not fully implementing (<80% of the time) recommended nutrition-related policies or practices within rural early child care centers were identified. Centers not consistently serving a variety of fruits (48%), vegetables (45%), whole grains (41%), limiting saturated fat intake (31%), implementing healthy celebration guidelines (41%), involving children in mealtime (62%), and referring families to nutrition assistance programs (24%) were identified. More than one third of centers also had limited structured PA opportunities. Although eligible, only 48% of the centers participated in the Child and Adult Care Food Program.
Conclusions:
Overall, centers lacked parental outreach, staff training, and funding/resources to support nutrition and PA. These results provide insight into where child care centers within low-income, rural communities may need assistance to help prevent childhood obesity.
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