Make a Move Intervention to Reduce Childhood Obesity

Abstract

Guided by the social cognitive theory, this randomized controlled trial tested the "Make a Move," a provider-led intervention for Head Start parents aimed to produce changes in the outcomes of knowledge, attitude, and behavior of physical activity and healthy eating. Participants were parents of children ages 3-5 years enrolled in a Head Start program. Participants completed a 57-item questionnaire at baseline and postintervention. The Wilcoxon rank-sum test revealed a statistically significant difference between the intervention and control groups in scores on knowledge of healthy eating ( z = 1.99, p = .05), attitude of physical activity ( z = 2.71, p < .01), and behavior of physical activity ( z = 2.03, p = .04). Ten participants (77%) completed all four intervention sessions. This study provided new insights into the relationship of a provider-led intervention with respect to knowledge, attitude, and behaviors in healthy eating and physical activity.

The Combined Effect of Infant Birth Weight and Maternal Determinants of Health on the Development of Childhood Obesity: A Systematic Review

“…Further, the report identified the percentage of obese children as 20.16% for children age 12-19 years, 17.4% for children age 6-11 years, and 9.4% for children age 2-5 years [3]. Obesity is difficult to reverse, especially if it develops in childhood and tracks into adulthood [4]. For this reason, prevention of the development of obesity in childhood is critical.…”

“…In fact, rates have nearly doubled in all age categories of children, with the exception of 2-5 year olds who experienced slight increases [3,4]. Currently, childhood obesity prevention largely revolves around instilling good health behaviors by educating parents on the importance of diet, exercise, and lifestyle factors [6].…”

Training Staff of Afterschool Programs on Healthy Eating and Physical Activity: Opportunity to Reduce Childhood Obesity

“…Recent national directives called for investigations to identify effective approaches to sustain and integrate childhood obesity interventions in health, education, and care systems taking into consideration measures of equity and long-term impact (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, 2018; Rhee, De Lago, Arscott-Mills, Mehta, & Davis, 2005; Waters et al, 2011). Findings from studies involving multicomponent interventions (i.e., parent included and not included, paper handouts, recorded modules, small group, one-on-one) indicate that it is possible to achieve multiple health-promoting changes in schoolchildren (Jones et al, 2011; McAlister, Perry, & Parcel, 2008; Nerud & Samra, 2016). However, outcomes are limited by lack of readiness of both leaders and staff to implement these interventions; it remains unclear which intervention component(s) has the most impact on behavior change (Waters et al, 2011).…”

“…This approach facilitates intervention programs that can be rooted in daily routines by frontline staff. Parents are key in providing education and modeling in the home (Nerud & Samra, 2016); they are a strong if not the strongest influence. However, afterschool staff can be a valued partner in helping promote HEPA to children.…”

Behaviors to Promote Healthy Eating and Physical Activity: Training Staff for After School Programs

“…

Recent national directives called for investigations to identify effective approaches to sustain and integrate childhood obesity interventions in health, education, and care systems taking into consideration measures of equity and long-term impact [13][14][15]. Findings from studies involving multi-component interventions indicate that it is possible to achieve multiple health-promoting changes in school children [16][17][18]. However, studies are limited by lack of readiness of both leaders and staff to implement these interventions; it remains unclear which component(s) has the most impact on behavior change [14].

…”