Web‐based Child Health Promotion Program in South Korea Collaborating with US NASA: Behavioral Changes in Diet and Physical Activity in Preschool Children

Abstract

AimsAs an international educational program, the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Mission X (MX) “Train Like An Astronaut” Program promote fitness and good nutrition in children in 29 countries worldwide. We adapted the MX program in South Korea for preschool children's, to promote physical activity, nutrition knowledge and healthy eating behavior.MethodsOur intervention program consisted of 4 wk‐fitness and 2 wk‐nutrition education sessions during Nov and Dec 2014 and included 212 children (154 completed the study with survey). Each session each week lasted for 20‐50 min. Parents reported their children's health‐related characteristics, physical activity and eating behavior. At baseline and 6‐wk follow up, we assessed the physical activity, food record, and Nutrition Acknowledgement Test (NAT).ResultsAt baseline, 13.3% of the subjects were overweight or obese (BMI蠅85th). After intervention, subjects' physical activity related interest increased by 49‐59%. Fat intake significantly decreased than baseline in the 10th蠄 BMI<85th group (49.0±16.2g vs 40.2±15.6g, p< 0.05). NAT scored improved, increased than baseline in the 10th蠄 BMI<85th group (75.8 vs 83.2, p<0.001), BMI<10th and BMI蠅85th groups (69.4 vs 78.9, 77.2 vs 88.3, p< 0.05).ConclusionsThe 6‐wk South Korea NASA MX Program has resulted in favorable changes in preschooler's physical activity, nutrition knowledge and eating.