Early Care and Education Settings Are Vital for Childhood Obesity Prevention.

Abstract

[Author Affiliation]Myra Jones-Taylor. Connecticut Office of Early Childhood, Hartford, CT.Address correspondence to: Myra Jones-Taylor, PhD, Connecticut Office of Early Childhood, 165 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106, E-mail: myra.jones-taylor@ct.govMuch has been written about the positive effects of high-quality early care and education (ECE) on children, especially those from low-income households. We know that children who attend high-quality ECE programs are more likely to graduate high school, hold a job, and earn higher incomes. They also commit fewer crimes,1 are more likely to attend college, and less likely to become teen parents.2 The six articles presented here suggest that ECE programs can also address childhood obesity given that fewer preschool-aged children who attend ECE programs with policies promoting nutrition and physical activity are identified as overweight or obese. Collectively, the articles encourage policy makers to see ECE as a critical partner in the fight against childhood obesity and highlight the current challenges and opportunities to promote nutritious eating and physical activity in young children.Together, these articles underscore the importance of three principles I promote and work to uphold as the commissioner of the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood: early is best; training and information are key to achieving policy goals; and, most important, families are our most critical partners. Each of the studies here reference the unique and promising role ECE can play in establishing lifelong habits of eating healthy food and engaging in physical activity among young children.The earliest years of a child's life are when the brain is most plastic and receptive to enriching environments.3 In their two articles,4,5 Schwartz and colleagues highlight how smart policy, such as the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), coupled with research-based practice have the potential to establish healthy practices in early childhood that can lead to reduced rates of health risks later in life.Schwartz's first article asks whether ECE programs participating in CACFP serve lunches that meet CACFP guidelines and whether the food children actually consume is aligned with the new proposed rules for CACFP based on recommendations from the Institute of Medicine.4 The study finds that most programs comply with current CACFP program guidelines, but adhering to the proposed new guidelines will be a challenge based on observed food consumption. The second article builds on the observed practice of serving food to young children in a family-style manner to consider whether variations in the order in which foods are offered and the elimination of foods after a first serving lead to an increased consumption of fruits and vegetables.5 Though the study was inconclusive, it suggests that being intentional about what to serve in the first course and when to no longer offer particular foods during mealtime may lead to the consumption of more nutritious foods.In Evaluation of nutrition and physical activity policies and practices in child care centers within rural communities, Foster and colleagues explore the unique challenges rural ECE providers face in supporting the healthy development of young children in their care who are more likely to be overweight than children living in urban communities.6 Geographical isolation, lack of funding, and lack of resources compound to make their work perhaps even more challenging than their colleagues in urban and suburban communities. Policies around geography and other demographic factors should be considered to address the issue of childhood obesity. Educating policy makers, legislators, advocates, and others of existing barriers and challenges is key in making informed and effective policy decisions.Many young children spend as much of their waking hours in ECE programs as they do at home. …