The effects of nutritional-physical activity school-based intervention on fatness and fitness in preschool children.
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.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the effects of a randomized prospective school-based intervention on anthropometric measures, body composition, leisure time habits and fitness in preschool 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.
Child Health and Sports Center, Pediatric Department, Meir General Hospital, Kfar-Saba.
Alon
A
Eliakim
Dan
D
Nemet
Yonit
Y
Balakirski
Yoram
Y
Epstein
D001823:Body Composition; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017146:Models, Organizational; D009043:Motor Activity; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*