title: Effect of a lifestyle intervention on adiposity and fitness in socially disadvantaged subgroups of preschoolers: a cluster-randomized trial (Ballabeina).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A multidimensional lifestyle intervention performed in 652 preschoolers (72% of migrant, 38% of low educational level (EL) parents) reduced body fat, but not BMI and improved fitness. The objective of this study is to examine whether the intervention was equally effective in children of migrant and/or low EL parents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cluster-randomized controlled single blinded trial, conducted in 2008/09 in 40 randomly selected preschools in Switzerland. The culturally tailored intervention consisted of a physical activity program and lessons on nutrition, media use and sleep. Primary outcomes included BMI and aerobic fitness. Secondary outcomes included %body fat, waist circumference and motor agility.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children of migrant parents benefitted similarly from the intervention compared to their counterparts (p for interaction≥ 0.09). However, children of low EL parents benefitted less, although these differences did not reach statistical significance (p for interaction≥ 0.06). Average intervention effect sizes for BMI were -0.10, -0.05, -0.11 and 0.04 kg/m(2) and for aerobic fitness were 0.55, 0.20, 0.37 and -0.05 stages for children of non-migrant, migrant, middle/high EL and low EL parents, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This intervention was similarly effective among preschoolers of migrant parents compared to their counterparts, while children of low EL parents benefitted less.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Exercise and Health Science, University of Basel, Birsstrasse 320B, CH-4052 Basel, Switzerland. flavia.buergi@unibas.ch
authors.forename: Flavia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bürgi
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Niederer
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schindler
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bodenmann
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marques-Vidal
authors.forename: Susi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kriemler
authors.forename: Jardena J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Puder
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity / Q000208:ethnology / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000379:methods*; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology; D013557:Switzerland; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D035862:Vulnerable Populations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055105:Waist Circumference