Healthy Caregivers-Healthy Children: Two Year Follow-Up Findings

Abstract

To assess the impact of an early childhood obesity prevention intervention on dietary patterns and BMI over two school years. A total of 28 centers were randomly assigned to: (1) Control Arm (safety intervention) or (2) Intervention Arm that received a multicomponent nutrition and physical activity program. Data was collected at baseline, 6-months, 12-months, and 24-months post intervention. Analyses found children in the treatment group had a negative slope (beta= -1.95, se=0.97, p=0.04), indicating less increase in BMI percentile versus control children. After two years of a preschool obesity prevention intervention, results indicate the potential long term impact of this program.