NAP SACC: Implementation of an Obesity Prevention Intervention in an American Indian Head Start Program

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Pediatric Nutrition
• Childhood Obesity Prevention

Background:

• Low-income American Indian preschoolers (2-5 years) exhibit the highest risk for overweight and obesity.
• Childhood obesity is a significant public health concern within this demographic.
• Community needs assessments identified obesity as a priority issue on an American Indian reservation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement the evidence-based Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (NAP SACC) program.
• To promote healthy weight development among American Indian preschoolers.
• To establish environmental policies and practices supporting nutrition and physical activity in child care settings.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of the NAP SACC program.
• Focus on continuous quality improvement for child care staff.
• Application across 15 Head Start sites on an American Indian reservation.

Main Results:

• NAP SACC implementation initiated to address identified obesity concerns.
• Focus on environmental and policy changes within Head Start programs.
• Targeted intervention for a high-risk preschool population.

Conclusions:

• The NAP SACC program offers a structured approach to improving nutrition and physical activity in child care.
• Intervention tailored to the specific needs of American Indian preschoolers on reservations.
• Potential for NAP SACC to mitigate overweight and obesity risks in vulnerable populations.