Obesity
Conditions
Brief summary
This study investigates whether a preschool-based physical activity intervention involving parents as active agents of behavioral change affects objectively measured physical activity in preschool children.
Detailed description
In the last 25 years, obesity in children has increased dramatically in Germany (Lampert et al. 2007, Stolzenberg et al., 2007) and other western societies. Lack of physical activity (PA) is one important factor contributing to obesity development. However, healthy behaviors are established early in life (adiposity rebound: Reilly 2008), which underlines the importance of early interventions. Preschools therefore might be an ideal setting for interventions to promote physical activity. While previous preschool interventions were directly aimed at the children's physical activity behaviors (e.g. promoting activity by sports lessons), parents as influential caregivers were mainly involved in educational ways and by information (e.g. newsletters, physical activity homework). The current intervention takes a participatory approach to involve parents as active agents of behavioral change. The study aim is to evaluate the effects of the participatory preference-based parental intervention on preschoolers' objectively measured physical activity behaviour and Body Mass Index (BMI). The intervention can easily be added as a parent module to existing children-focused physical activity programmes. In several workshops, parents are presented a set of possible project ideas for improving everyday physical activity in the preschools. After forming teams, they either select project ideas from the preexisting menu or develop ideas de novo and then implement them into the local preschool environment. The intervention is implemented in the frame of an existing state-sponsored physical activity (PA) program offering twice weekly sports lessons by external gym trainers to preschoolers over a period of 6 months. Preschools in the control arm get the state-sponsored PA program only. Preschools in the intervention arm get the participatory parent-focused PA intervention in addition to the existing state-sponsored PA program.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALParticipatory parent-focused intervention
Parent workshops and internet-based support to establish healthy physical activity routines, added to existing state-sponsored PA program
BEHAVIORALState-sponsored PA program
Preschool children receive twice a week 60 minutes of physical activity lessons over 6 months by an external gym trainer
Sponsors
Heidelberg University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
3 Years to 6 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Healthy children * Participation in the standard physical activity lesson twice weekly
Exclusion criteria
* Age under 3 years or above 6 years * Serious atopic dermatitis * Genetic conditions * Metabolic diseases * Acute infectious diseases
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in physical activity as measured by accelerometry and heart rate | 0,6 and 12 months | before intervention (0 months), 6 and 12 months later |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Body Mass Index, percent fat mass (based on skin folds), waist-to-height ratio and waist circumference Change in blood pressure, sympathetic/parasympathetic tone. Sleep quantity by accelerometry. | 0, 6 and 12 months | before intervention (0 months), 6 and 12 months later |
Other
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in quality of life and subjective wellbeing | 0, 6 and 12 months | before intervention (0 months), 6 and 12 months later |
Countries
Germany
Outcome results
None listed