"GET-UP" study rationale and protocol: a cluster randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effects of reduced sitting on toddlers' cognitive development.
The educational and cognitive differences associated with low socioeconomic status begin early in life and tend to persist throughout life. Coupled with the finding that levels of sedentary time are negatively associated with cognitive development, and time spent active tends to be lower in disadvantaged circumstances, this highlights the need for interventions that reduce the amount of time children spend sitting and sedentary during childcare. The proposed study aims to assess the effects of reducing sitting time during Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) services on cognitive development in toddlers from low socio-economic families.



We will implement a 12-months 2-arm parallel group cluster randomised controlled trial (RCT) with Australian toddlers, aged 12 to 26 months at baseline. Educators from the ECEC services allocated to the intervention group will receive professional development on how to reduce sitting time while children attend ECEC. Participants' cognitive development will be assessed as a primary outcome, at baseline and post-intervention, using the cognitive sub-test from the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development.



This trial has the potential to inform programs and policies designed to optimize developmental and health outcomes in toddlers, specifically in those from disadvantaged backgrounds.



Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12616000471482 , 11/04/2016, retrospectively registered.
Early Start Research Institute, School of Education, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia. rutes@uow.edu.au.|Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal. rutes@uow.edu.au.
Rute
0000-0002-7604-5753
R
Santos
Early Start Research Institute, School of Education, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia.
Dylan P
DP
Cliff
Early Start Research Institute, School of Education, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia.
Steven J
SJ
Howard
Early Start Research Institute, School of Education, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia.
Sanne L
SL
Veldman
Early Start Research Institute, School of Education, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia.|Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia.
Ian M
IM
Wright
Early Start Research Institute, School of Education, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia.
Eduarda
E
Sousa-Sá
Early Start Research Institute, School of Education, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia.
João R
JR
Pereira
Early Start Research Institute, School of Education, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia.
Anthony D
AD
Okely
D002654:Child Care / Q000379:methods*; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003071:Cognition; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015233:Models, Statistical; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D016037:Single-Blind Method
Childcare; Executive function; Physical activity; Sedentary behaviour