About Careers Internship MedBlog Contact us
Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Advertisement

Early Intervention can Promote a Healthy Lifestyle in Preschoolers

by Iswarya on April 23, 2019 at 2:43 PM
Early Intervention can Promote a Healthy Lifestyle in Preschoolers

Children may have a better chance of avoiding unhealthy habits associated with obesity and heart disease later in life if they are correctly taught about healthy behaviors in preschool, reports a new study. The findings of the study are published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

The researchers focused on children living in a socioeconomically disadvantaged community, a situation that is commonly linked to higher rates of obesity, heart disease, and other health issues. Valentin Fuster, MD, Ph.D., Director of Mount Sinai Heart and Physician-in-Chief of The Mount Sinai Hospital, created and led the trial, called the FAMILIA Project at Mount Sinai Heart.

Advertisement


"The interventions that we applied in the school system are low cost and easy to implement, and we hope in time they can be integrated into schools across the country to promote healthy behaviors among children to ultimately reduce their risk factors for developing heart disease throughout their lives," explained Dr. Fuster.

"Results from this new study prove early intervention is effective in preschool-age children, but we believe this can also promote healthy behaviors among their caregivers and teachers and have a far-reaching impact."
Advertisement

Researchers analyzed 562 preschoolers (ages three to five) in 15 different Head Start schools in Harlem, in New York City's borough of Manhattan. Harlem's population is predominantly African American and Latino, groups that experience a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.

Two groups of children went through the trial for one four-month period between 2015 and 2018. At the beginning of the study, all children answered a simple questionnaire, which included pictures for easier comprehension, to test their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding diet, physical activity, how the human body and heart works, and emotions. For example, the children were asked to pick out which foods were healthier in a cluster that included vegetables, fruits, and cheeseburgers/fries. They were also asked how often they run, jump, and play.

Children in six preschools (the control group) went through their regular classroom curriculum, while children in the other nine preschools (the intervention group) went through a different learning program created by cardiologists, psychologists, and educators. In 38 hours of classwork over the four-month period, teachers taught the intervention-group preschoolers about healthy diet, physical activity, how the human body works, and managing emotions. Caregivers were also told to engage in 12 hours of specific activities with their children on weekends during the four months, including buying fresh fruit at the grocery store and choosing physical activity over sedentary behavior.

After the four months, researchers gave that same questionnaire to children in both the control and intervention groups and then compared them.

Preschoolers in the intervention group improved their knowledge and attitudes toward a healthy lifestyle by 12 percent, more than twice as much as the control group at 5.5 percent. (The control group was expected to improve, as the regular curriculum included a component of health education.) Children in the interventional group with the lowest questionnaire scores at the start of the study improved the most, and those who got at least 75 percent of the interventional curriculum fared better than those who received less than half of it (this also confirms the efficacy of the intervention and if it was if the intervention was successfully implemented).

Additionally, researchers found the curriculum was more effective for four-year-olds than three-year-olds, suggesting that that could be the ideal age for starting the intervention because four-year-olds are more mature and able to retain information better.

Source: Eurekalert
Font : A-A+

Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Recommended Readings

Latest Child Health News

Do Adverse Drug Reactions Cause Autism Spectrum Disorder?
Side-effects of valproate drug taken during pregnancy, enhance the expression of Rnf146 gene, causing autism spectrum disorder in fetus.
Amblyopia or Poor Vision in Kids - Does Digital Vision Training Help?
Children with amblyopia or lazy eye who underwent digital vision training, showed no appreciable improvement in their eyesight.
Childhood Malnutrition Linked to Stunted Growth and Mortality Risk
In 2022, over 20% of children worldwide lacked adequate calories for growth, with 45+ million showing wasting (underweight for height).
Pneumococcal Vaccines Reduce Severe Infections in Kids With Sickle Cell Disease
After PCV7 licensure, pneumococcal infection rates in children aged 5+ with sickle cell disease significantly decreased.
Breast Milk Proteins to Boost Baby's Gut Health
Breast milk concentration of certain key proteins indicates abundance of healthy bacteria in babies' guts.
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
MediBotMediBot
Greetings! How can I assist you?MediBot
×

Early Intervention can Promote a Healthy Lifestyle in Preschoolers Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests