title: Effect of multidimensional lifestyle intervention on fitness and adiposity in predominantly migrant preschool children (Ballabeina): cluster randomised controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the effect of a multidimensional lifestyle intervention on aerobic fitness and adiposity in predominantly migrant preschool children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cluster randomised controlled single blinded trial (Ballabeina study) over one school year; randomisation was performed after stratification for linguistic region.
  
  
  METHODS
  40 preschool classes in areas with a high migrant population in the German and French speaking regions of Switzerland.
  
  
  METHODS
  652 of the 727 preschool children had informed consent and were present for baseline measures (mean age 5.1 years (SD 0.7), 72% migrants of multicultural origins). No children withdrew, but 26 moved away.
  
  
  METHODS
  The multidimensional culturally tailored lifestyle intervention included a physical activity programme, lessons on nutrition, media use (use of television and computers), and sleep and adaptation of the built environment of the preschool class. It lasted from August 2008 to June 2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary outcomes were aerobic fitness (20 m shuttle run test) and body mass index (BMI). Secondary outcomes included motor agility, balance, percentage body fat, waist circumference, physical activity, eating habits, media use, sleep, psychological health, and cognitive abilities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with controls, children in the intervention group had an increase in aerobic fitness at the end of the intervention (adjusted mean difference: 0.32 stages (95% confidence interval 0.07 to 0.57; P=0.01) but no difference in BMI (-0.07 kg/m(2), -0.19 to 0.06; P=0.31). Relative to controls, children in the intervention group had beneficial effects in motor agility (-0.54 s, -0.90 to -0.17; P=0.004), percentage body fat (-1.1%, -2.0 to -0.2; P=0.02), and waist circumference (-1.0 cm, -1.6 to -0.4; P=0.001). There were also significant benefits in the intervention group in reported physical activity, media use, and eating habits, but not in the remaining secondary outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A multidimensional intervention increased aerobic fitness and reduced body fat but not BMI in predominantly migrant preschool children. Trial registration Clinical Trials NCT00674544.
authors: Service of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, University of Lausanne, Rue du Bugnon 46, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland. jardena.puder@chuv.ch
authors: J J
authors: JJ
authors: Puder
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Marques-Vidal
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Schindler
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Zahner
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Niederer
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Bürgi
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Ebenegger
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Nydegger
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Kriemler
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity / Q000502:physiology*; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003201:Computers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004032:Diet; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D007374:Interior Design and Furnishings; D008019:Life Style; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000379:methods*; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D012890:Sleep; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology; D013690:Television / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055105:Waist Circumference