The Effects of a Comprehensive, Integrated Obesity Prevention Intervention Approach (SuperFIT) on Children's Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and BMI Z-Score

SuperFIT is a comprehensive, integrated intervention approach aimed at promoting healthy energy balance-related behaviors in 2- to 4-year-old children in the preschool and home settings. A quasi-experimental research design was adopted to evaluate the effects of SuperFIT on physical activity (PA), s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	International journal of environmental research and public health 2019-12, Vol.16 (24), p.5016
Main Authors:	van de Kolk, Ilona, Gerards, Sanne M P L, Harms, Lisa S E, Kremers, Stef P J, Gubbels, Jessica S
Format:	Article
Language:	eng
Subjects:	Accelerometry Age Body Mass Index Body Weight Cards Caregivers Child Health Child, Preschool Children Children & youth Curricula Exercise Families & family life Female Fruits Health Behavior Health care Health Promotion - methods Hoops Humans Intervention Male Nutrition Obesity Obesity - prevention & control Parents & parenting Physical activity Preschool education Recruitment Schools Sedentary Behavior System theory Teachers Toys Training Vegetables
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Summary:	SuperFIT is a comprehensive, integrated intervention approach aimed at promoting healthy energy balance-related behaviors in 2- to 4-year-old children in the preschool and home settings. A quasi-experimental research design was adopted to evaluate the effects of SuperFIT on physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior (SB) and Body Mass Index (BMI) z-score. Children could participate in the preschool-based and family-based component (full intervention) or only in the preschool-based component (partial intervention). Children's PA levels and SB were assessed with accelerometers and observations, and height and weight were measured for the BMI z-score. Measurements were performed at baseline and two follow-up time points. Effectiveness was evaluated using linear mixed-model analyses, correcting for relevant covariates. Healthy changes in PA levels occurred within all study groups over time. No significant differences were found in overall PA levels between the intervention groups and control group at both follow-ups. Nevertheless, sedentary behavior decreased more in the full intervention group (effect size (ES): -0.62), and moderate-to-vigorous PA (ES: 0.85) and counts per minute (ES: 0.45) increased more compared to the control group on preschool days at the first follow-up. No effects were found for BMI z-score. The integrated approach of SuperFIT may induce changes in PA of young children, although the effects were small.
ISSN:	1660-4601 1661-7827 1660-4601