Evidence Mapping: Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Practice Elements in Early Childhood Education and Care

Many health and government organisations have developed recommendations to promote the healthy eating and physical activity of children attending early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings. However, the evidence supporting these recommendations is not well described. An examination of the current evidence is needed to support decision-makers to understand and prioritise practices for implementation.

To utilise a novel systematic evidence-mapping process which: (i) examines the evidence-base underpinning ECEC-based healthy eating and physical activity practice elements; and (ii) classifies practice elements according to the World Health Organization (WHO) Standards for Healthy Eating, Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour and Sleep in Early Childhood and Care Settings to examine alignment with current global guidelines.

We undertook a two-stage, five-step systematic process, involving identifying existing evidence and conducting a secondary data analysis and synthesis of the evidence underpinning practice elements.

Sixteen healthy eating and 19 physical activity practice elements were assessed as likely beneficial. Most of these mapped to WHO Standard 2: Creating supportive environments. Seven practice elements were assessed as possibly beneficial, two as possibly not beneficial and none as not beneficial. There was insufficient evidence to assess 39 practice elements.

This study provides insights into the evidence underpinning practice elements included in ECEC-based guidelines, identifies evidence-based practice elements not included in existing guidelines and highlights opportunities where evidence can be strengthened. SO WHAT?: The evidence underpinning guideline recommendations is variable or non-existent. Evaluation around the implementation of guidelines within funded programs is needed.