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Early Nutritional Education in the Prevention of Childhood Obesity
Mario Gato-Moreno1, María F Martos-Lirio1, Isabel Leiva-Gea1,2,3
1Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Regional University Hospital of Málaga, 29011 Málaga, Spain.
Insights
This study shows a nutritional education program for parents of preschoolers effectively reduced children's body mass index z-score (zBMI) and prevented obesity. The intervention improved BMI, particularly for children with higher BMIs, and stabilized overweight/obesity rates.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Nutrition Science
Background:
- Early childhood represents a critical window for implementing obesity prevention strategies.
- Preschool-aged children are susceptible to weight gain, necessitating targeted interventions.
- Parental involvement is key in shaping children's health behaviors and preventing childhood obesity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a parent-focused nutritional education intervention in preventing obesity among preschool-aged children.
- To assess the intervention's impact on body mass index z-score (zBMI) and the prevalence of overweight or obesity.
- To determine the long-term effects of the intervention through a one-year follow-up.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 261 preschool children (aged 3-4 years) in Málaga, Spain.
- Intervention group received nutritional education with a one-year follow-up session.
- Outcome measures included body mass index z-score (zBMI) and prevalence of overweight/obesity.
Main Results:
- The intervention group showed a significant decrease in mean zBMI from 0.23 to 0.10 after one year (p=0.002).
- Children with higher baseline zBMI in the intervention group experienced significant reductions in zBMI over two years (from 1.01 to 0.73, p=0.002).
- The control group exhibited a significant increase in overweight/obesity prevalence (12.2% to 20.1%, p=0.027), while the intervention group maintained stable rates.
Conclusions:
- A preschool educational intervention targeting parents effectively improved children's BMI and prevented obesity.
- The intervention demonstrated particular benefit for children with elevated BMIs at the start.
- Parental nutritional education is a viable strategy for childhood obesity prevention in early years.
Abstract:
Early childhood is a critical period for obesity prevention. This randomized controlled study evaluated the effectiveness of an educational intervention preventing obesity in preschool-age children. A nutritional education intervention, with a follow-up session one year later, was conducted with parents of children aged 3 to 4 years of public schools in the province of Málaga. The main outcome variable was the body mass index z-score (zBMI). The prevalence of overweight or obesity was the secondary outcome variable. The sample comprised 261 students (control group = 139). Initial BMI, weight, height-for-age and prevalence of overweight and obesity were similar for both groups. After the first year of the intervention, the zBMI of the intervention group decreased significantly from 0.23 to 0.10 (p = 0.002), and the subgroup of patients with baseline zBMI above the median decreased from 1 to 0.72 (p = 0.001), and in the second year from 1.01 to 0.73 (p = 0.002). The joint prevalence of overweight and obesity increased in the control group (12.2% to 20.1%; p = 0.027), while in the intervention group, there were no significant changes. This preschool educational intervention with parents improved their children's BMI, especially those with a higher BMI for their age, and favored the prevention of overweight or obesity.
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