Expert and Stakeholder Consensus on Priorities for Obesity Prevention Research in Early Care and Education Settings

Abstract

Background: Early childhood is a formative period for many weight-related behaviors (diet and activity), but little obesity prevention research targeting this age group has been conducted. Early care and education settings are a useful avenue for interventions targeting young children, but the limited research provides insufficient evidence upon which to base policy decisions, practice guidelines, or mobilized efforts to improve healthy eating and physical activity, and ultimately healthy weight development in these settings.Methods: In September of 2011, prominent researchers, young investigators, and leaders in early care and education came together to examine past research and to explore challenges and priorities for future research on healthy weight development in children aged 2-5 years. During this meeting, experts presented and attendees discussed key issues around measurement of diet and physical activity, policy and environment measurement, intervention approaches, policy research, and capacity development. Following the meeting, attendees were invited to participate in an online voting exercise to select top research priorities.Results: A total of 64 research issues were identified, and voting narrowed this list to 24 issues. Highest-rated issues included: Assessment of the quality of children's meals and snacks, use of financial incentives, interventions that include healthcare providers, the role of screen time, and need for multilevel interventions.Conclusions: The presentations within this meeting highlighted the importance of research to address the unique challenges for those working in early care and education settings. Expert and stakeholder consensus of priorities identified significant and innovative areas where future obesity prevention research efforts should be focused.

Nutrition and Physical Activity Environments of Home-Based Child Care: What Hispanic Providers Have to Say

“…25,27,30,[34][35][36] However, further research is needed to identify evidence-based obesity prevention policies and practices that can be implemented in child care settings, including FCCHs. 37 To date, there are two obesity prevention experimental studies in FCCHs 22,38 : however, neither of these studies included Spanish-speaking providers. Our formative research demonstrates the importance of engaging with the community of Hispanic FCCH providers to enable creation of culturally relevant interventions.…”

Providers perspectives on self-regulation impact their use of responsive feeding practices in child care

“…In the US, more than 12 million children attend childcare and consume up to 5 meals and snacks daily in such settings. (Kaphingst & Story, 2009;Larson et al, 2011;Ward, Vaughn, & Story, 2013). Therefore, childcare providers can shape children's dietary behaviors and prevent childhood obesity.…”

Policy Improves What Beverages Are Served to Young Children in Child Care

“…2 Compared with school settings, few obesity prevention efforts have focused on child-care settings. 3 Because more than one quarter of children are overweight or obese when entering kindergarten, 4 waiting until children attend school misses an early opportunity to establish healthy dietary behaviors.…”