Healthy Start to Increase Physical Activity and Improve Healthy Eating in Early Childcare Centres

Summary

Childhood obesity is one of the greatest challenges facing public health and recent evidence shows it begins in preschool aged children. It has been suggested that interventions be carried out to improve physical activity and healthy eating behaviour among young children. This study aims to fully evaluate Healthy Start, a multilevel physical activity and healthy eating intervention for preschool aged children. It is hypothesized that the Healthy Start intervention will improve both eating and physical activity behaviors of children attending early childcare centers because of its influence on multiple factors.

Conditions

• Pediatric Obesity

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Healthy Start

Healthy Start was designed to promote physical activity and healthy eating among 3-5 year old children. Specifically, Healthy Start attempts to influence factors at the intrapersonal, interpersonal, organizational, community and physical environment and political levels. These levels of influence are targeted such that from an operational stand point, Healthy Start is composed of six interlinked components: 1) intersectoral partnerships that leads to promoting healthy weights in communities and ECC; 2) The Healthy Start guide for educators; 3) customized training, role modelling and monitoring; 4) an evidence-based resource for both families and educators; 5) supplementary resources from governmental partners; and 6) a knowledge development and exchange, and communication strategy.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Saskatchewan

  collaborator OTHER

• Université de Sherbrooke

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Anne Leis, PhD · University of Saskatchewan

• Mathieu Bélanger, PhD · Université de Sherbrooke

• Louise Humbert, PhD · University of Saskatchewan

• Hassan Vatanparast, PhD · University of Saskatchewan

• Nazeem Muhajarine, PhD · University of Saskatchewan

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

3 Years

Max Age

5 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2013-09-30

Primary Completion

2016-07-31

Completion

2016-07-31

Countries

• Canada

Study Locations