Healthy Nutrition and Physical Activity in Childcare: Views from Childcare Managers, Childcare Workers and Parents on Influential Factors.

Ilona Van De Kolk,Jessica Gubbels,Anne Goossens,Roos Manders,Sanne Gerards,Stef Kremers

doi:10.3390/ijerph15122909

Ilona Van De Kolk, Jessica Gubbels + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15122909

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Abstract

Childhood obesity is an important public health issue influenced by both personal and environmental factors. The childcare setting plays an important role in children’s energy balance-related behaviours (EBRB), such as physical activity, sedentary behaviour and healthy nutrition. This study aimed to explore facilitators and barriers of healthy EBRB in childcare in a comprehensive way, from the perspective of three crucial stakeholders: childcare managers, childcare workers and parents. A qualitative study was performed using semi-structured interviews. Content analysis was performed using the ‘Environmental Research framework for weight Gain prevention’ (EnRG framework) to guide the analysis. Forty-eight interviews were held with a total of 65 participants (9 childcare managers, 23 childcare workers and 33 parents). Influential factors in all types of environment (physical, sociocultural, economic and political) were mentioned. Although a need for change was not always expressed, the interviews revealed opportunities for improvement of healthy EBRB in childcare. These opportunities were related to the sociocultural, physical and political environment. Childcare workers and managers expressed an influence of the home setting on the childcare setting, resulting in a need for more congruence between these settings. There are opportunities for improvement in the childcare setting to promote healthy EBRB in young children in the Netherlands. It appears important to align intervention components between the childcare and home setting.

Highlights

IntroductionMany children are growing up in an obesogenic environment, resulting in a high intake of energy-dense foods, low levels of physical activity and high levels of sedentary behaviour [1,2,3,4]
Many children are growing up in an obesogenic environment, resulting in a high intake of energy-dense foods, low levels of physical activity and high levels of sedentary behaviour [1,2,3,4].These unfavourable energy balance-related behaviours (EBRB) have resulted in an increase in the prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity [5,6]
Forty-eight interviews were held with a total of 65 participants (9 childcare managers, 23 childcare workers and 33 parents)

Summary

Introduction

Many children are growing up in an obesogenic environment, resulting in a high intake of energy-dense foods, low levels of physical activity and high levels of sedentary behaviour [1,2,3,4]. These unfavourable energy balance-related behaviours (EBRB) have resulted in an increase in the prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity [5,6]. 2.6% (girls, obese) for 4-year-old children [5] These numbers are comparable to the prevalence of overweight and obesity in other Northern European countries, but are fairly favourable compared to the prevalence in other Western countries [7,8]. Public Health 2018, 15, 2909; doi:10.3390/ijerph15122909 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph

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