PreSchool@HealthyWeight

Rationale

The prevalence of overweight and obesity among Dutch children is high. Child care providers can influence the eating behavior and physical activity level of children. However, child care providers are not trained to support children and their parents or caregivers in pursuing a healthy lifestyle.



Objective

The primary objective of this study is to increase the level of confidence of child care providers in supporting children and their parents or caregivers in pursuing a healthy lifestyle. The secondary objective is to gain insight in the effect of training child care providers in supporting children and their parents or caregivers regarding a healthy life style on:

- the knowledge, attitude and skills of child care providers and parents or caregivers concerning a healthy lifestyle;

- body composition and BMI of child care providers and children;

- eating behavior and physical activity level of child care providers and children.

Study design

Cluster randomized controlled trial.



Study population

Child care providers, children and their parents or caregivers of preschool locations of child care organization Impuls in Amsterdam Nieuw-West.

Intervention

Preschool locations of child care organization Impuls will be randomly assigned to the intervention or control group. After baseline measurements, child care providers will start with the training 'Een Gezonde Start' that consists of 3 meetings. Based on theory and assignments child care providers will learn about pursuing a healthy lifestyle. After the program, child care providers can put the gained knowledge into practice by giving feedback to parents or caregivers on the eating behavior and physical activity level of their child(ren). Besides 'Een Gezonde Start', a modified version of the 'PLAYgrounds' intervention will be performed. With 'PLAYgrounds' the child care providers will stimulate the physical activity level of the children using instructions of a trainer. On preschool locations in the control group, child care providers will not take part in the interventions.



Main study parameters

The level of confidence (10 point Likert scale) of child care providers in supporting children and their parents or caregivers to pursue a healthy lifestyle.

It is hypothesized that, as a result of the existing interventions 'Een Gezonde Start' (English: 'A Healthy Start') and 'PLAYgrounds' child care providers will have an increased level of confidence in supporting children and their parents or caregivers in pursuing a healthy lifestyle. Moreover, the interventions intend to improve:

- the knowledge, attitude and skills of child care providers and parents or caregivers regarding a healthy lifestyle;

- body composition and BMI of child care providers and children;
- eating behavior and physical activity level of child care providers and children.

Child care providers

- baseline

- 4 months (end of intervention 'Een Gezonde Start')

- 9 months (end of study)



Children

- baseline

- 9 months (end of study)



Parents or caregivers

- baseline

- 9 months (end of study)

PreSchool@HealthyWeight concerns research on 3 populations: child care providers, children and their parents or caregivers. Preschool locations of child care organization Impuls will be randomly assigned to the intervention or control group. After baseline measurements, child care providers will start with the training 'Een Gezonde Start' that consists of 3 meetings. Based on theory and assignments child care providers will learn about pursuing a healthy lifestyle. After the program, child care providers can put the gained knowledge into practice by giving feedback to parents or caregivers on the eating behavior and physical activity level of their child(ren). Besides 'Een Gezonde Start', a modified version of the 'PLAYgrounds' intervention will be performed. With 'PLAYgrounds' the child care providers will stimulate the physical activity level of the children using instructions of a trainer. On preschool locations in the control group, child care providers will not take part in the interventions.