title: Does the CATCH Early Childhood Program Increase Physical Activity Among Low-Income Preschoolers?-Results From a Pilot Study.
abstract: To explore whether the physical activity (PA) component of the Coordinated Approach to Child Health Early Childhood (CATCH EC) program helps increasing preschoolers' PA during active times at preschool.
  
  
  
  Nonrandomized controlled experimental study.
  
  
  
  Head Start centers in Houston, Texas, 2009 to 2010 school year.
  
  
  
  A total of 439 preschoolers aged 3 to 5 years (3 intervention centers, n = 220; 3 comparison centers, n = 219).
  
  
  
  The CATCH EC preschool-based teacher-led nutrition and PA program.
  
  
  
  Preschoolers' PA was measured at baseline and postintervention using the System for Observing Fitness Instruction Time-Preschool version, a direct observation method measuring PA at the classroom level. Parent surveys provided demographic data.
  
  
  
  Pre-to-post changes in preschoolers' PA were examined using the Mann-Whitney U test.
  
  
  
  Results show a significant decrease in the percentage time preschoolers spent in level 2 PA (low activity) at intervention ( P = .005) and comparison ( P = .041) centers. Indoor vigorous activity increased significantly on an average by +6.04% pre-to-post intervention among preschoolers in the intervention group ( P = .049); no significant change was found in the comparison group.
  
  
  
  The CATCH EC favorably increased indoor vigorous PA level among low-income children attending Head Start.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics & Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA.|2 Michael and Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Ru-Jye
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics & Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA.|2 Michael and Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Shreela V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics & Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA.|2 Michael and Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, Houston, TX, USA.|3 Department of Health Promotion & Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health in Austin, University of Texas Health Science Center, Austin, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics & Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA.|4 Department of Health Promotion & Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Diamond
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002656:Child Day Care Centers / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013781:Texas
keywords: early childhood; intervention; low-income; moderate-to-vigorous physical activity; obesity prevention; physical activity; preschooler