TY - JOUR
T1 - The effects of nutritional-physical activity school-based intervention on fatness and fitness in preschool children
AU - Eliakim, Alon
AU - Nemet, Dan
AU - Balakirski, Yonit
AU - Epstein, Yoram
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors would like to thank Ms T. Eylon, Ms M. Honig and Ms I. Livne from the Israeli Ministry of Education and Ms S. Manor from the Education Department of the Municipality of Oranit. This study was supported by a grant from the Israel Heart Fund, and the Carlos Lindenfeld Memorial Fund of the Jewish Community of San Diego, USA. Last, but not least, we thank the preschool staff, the children and their parents for their cooperation.
PY - 2007/6
Y1 - 2007/6
N2 - Background: Obesity is now the most common chronic pediatric disease. Early health education programs could serve to prevent and treat childhood obesity and its numerous complications. Aim: To examine the effects of a randomized prospective school-based intervention on anthropometric measures, body composition, leisure time habits and fitness in preschool children. Children: Fifty-four preschool children completed a 14-week combined dietary-behavioral-physical activity intervention and were compared to 47 age matched controls (age 5-6 yr). Results: Daily physical activity was significantly greater in the intervention group compared to the controls (6,927 ± 364 vs 5,489 ± 284 steps/day, respectively; p <0.003). Favorable changes were observed in weight (0.35 ± 0.08 vs 0.9 ± 0.1 kg, p <0.0005), BMI percentile (-3.8 ± 1.3 vs 2.9 ± 1.5 kg/m2, p <0.001), fat percent (by skinfolds, -0.65 ± 0.3 vs 1.64 ± 0.3%, p <0.028) and fitness (endurance time -3.55 ± 1.85 vs 3.16 ± 2.05%, p <0.017) in the intervention versus control groups. Conclusions: A preschool, dietary/physical activity intervention may play a role in health promotion, prevention and treatment of childhood obesity.
AB - Background: Obesity is now the most common chronic pediatric disease. Early health education programs could serve to prevent and treat childhood obesity and its numerous complications. Aim: To examine the effects of a randomized prospective school-based intervention on anthropometric measures, body composition, leisure time habits and fitness in preschool children. Children: Fifty-four preschool children completed a 14-week combined dietary-behavioral-physical activity intervention and were compared to 47 age matched controls (age 5-6 yr). Results: Daily physical activity was significantly greater in the intervention group compared to the controls (6,927 ± 364 vs 5,489 ± 284 steps/day, respectively; p <0.003). Favorable changes were observed in weight (0.35 ± 0.08 vs 0.9 ± 0.1 kg, p <0.0005), BMI percentile (-3.8 ± 1.3 vs 2.9 ± 1.5 kg/m2, p <0.001), fat percent (by skinfolds, -0.65 ± 0.3 vs 1.64 ± 0.3%, p <0.028) and fitness (endurance time -3.55 ± 1.85 vs 3.16 ± 2.05%, p <0.017) in the intervention versus control groups. Conclusions: A preschool, dietary/physical activity intervention may play a role in health promotion, prevention and treatment of childhood obesity.
KW - Exercise
KW - Multidisciplinary treatment
KW - Obesity
KW - Preschool
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=34447322544&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1515/JPEM.2007.20.6.711
DO - 10.1515/JPEM.2007.20.6.711
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AN - SCOPUS:34447322544
SN - 0334-018X
VL - 20
SP - 711
EP - 718
JO - Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism
JF - Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism
IS - 6
ER -
