title: Measurement of obesity prevention in childcare settings: A systematic review of current instruments.
abstract: The incidence of childhood obesity is highest among children entering kindergarten. Overweight and obesity in early childhood track through adulthood. Programs increasingly target children in early life for obesity prevention. However, the published literature lacks a review on tools available for measuring behaviour and environmental level change in child care. The objective is to describe measurement tools currently in use in evaluating obesity-prevention in preschool-aged children.
  
  
  
  Literature searches were conducted in PubMed using the keywords "early childhood obesity," "early childhood measurement," "early childhood nutrition" and "early childhood physical activity." Inclusion criteria included a discussion of: (1) obesity prevention, risk assessment or treatment in children ages 1-5 years; and (2) measurement of nutrition or physical activity.
  
  
  
  One hundred thirty-four publications were selected for analysis. Data on measurement tools, population and outcomes were abstracted into tables. Tables are divided by individual and environmental level measures and further divided into physical activity, diet and physical health outcomes. Recommendations are made for weighing advantages and disadvantages of tools.
  
  
  
  Despite rising numbers of interventions targeting obesity-prevention and treatment in preschool-aged children, there is no consensus for which tools represent a gold standard or threshold of accuracy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States. Electronic address: kaitlyn.stanhope@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Kaitlyn K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Stanhope
authors.affiliation: HealthMPowers, 3200 Pointe Pkwy NW # 400, Norcross, GA 30092, United States.
authors.forename: Christi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kay
authors.affiliation: HealthMPowers, 3200 Pointe Pkwy NW # 400, Norcross, GA 30092, United States.
authors.forename: Beth
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stevenson
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States.
authors.forename: Julie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Gazmararian
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002656:Child Day Care Centers; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D005518:Food Preferences; D006266:Health Education; D006293:Health Promotion; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D010809:Physical Fitness
keywords: Childhood obesity; Nutrition; Physical activity; Prevention