Design, Implementation, and Study Protocol of a Kindergarten-Based Health Promotion Intervention

Area of Science:

• Childhood obesity prevention
• Public health interventions
• Early childhood education

Background:

• Rising prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity necessitates early health promotion strategies.
• Kindergarten settings are ideal for implementing health interventions due to early behavior development.
• Existing health promotion requires evidence-based, scalable programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate the "Join the Healthy Boat" kindergarten-based health promotion program.
• To assess the program's effectiveness in increasing physical activity and healthy eating habits.
• To understand health behaviors in early childhood and identify effective promotion strategies.

Main Methods:

• Cluster-randomised controlled trial design involving 62 kindergartens.
• Intervention developed using Bartholomew's Intervention Mapping, social-cognitive theory, and ecological framework.
• Train-the-trainer approach for program dissemination, implemented in 618 kindergartens.
• Standardised protocols for outcome and process evaluation with 1021 participating children and parents.

Main Results:

• Study results are currently pending.
• The intervention focuses on physical activity, reduced screen time, decreased sugar-sweetened beverage intake, and increased fruit and vegetable consumption.
• Process evaluation data will inform program implementation and scalability.

Conclusions:

• Effective health promotion in early childhood is vital for long-term well-being.
• The "Join the Healthy Boat" program offers a structured approach to improving children's health behaviors.
• Further research is needed to confirm the intervention's impact on childhood obesity and related health outcomes.