ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to overcome barriers to access and attendance, and improve recruitment and engagement, through delivery and evaluation of the Parenting, Eating and Activity for Child Health (PEACH) child weight management program, as a facilitated group-based online healthy lifestyle program, PEACH Lifestyle. METHODS: Pre-post feasibility study of an online intervention comprising a website with 10 self-directed learning modules and 6 facilitated group-based video conferencing sessions with parents (nâ¯=â¯79) of children (7.9 ± 2.9 years, 25% healthy weight, 23% obese). RESULTS: Three enrollees were from remote locations. Half of the parents (nâ¯=â¯38) attended ≥1 video conferencing session (medianâ¯=â¯3 participants per session [Range, 0-7]). Thirty percent (n = 7 of 21) completed all 10 online modules. Technical issues, time, and family commitments were barriers to engagement. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Reframing and delivering a weight management program as a healthy lifestyle program online in real-time did not address barriers to engagement in PEACH Lifestyle.
Subject(s)
Health Promotion/methods , Healthy Lifestyle , Child , Child, Preschool , Feasibility Studies , Humans , InternetABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Early childhood settings are promising avenues to intervene to improve children's nutrition. Previous research has shown that a nutrition award scheme, Start Right - Eat Right (SRER), improves long day care centre policies, menus and eating environments. Whether this translates into improvements in children's dietary intake is unknown. The present study aimed to determine whether SRER improves children's food and nutrient intakes. DESIGN: Pre-post cohort study. SETTING: Twenty long day care centres in metropolitan Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. SUBJECTS: Children aged 2-4 years (n 236 at baseline, n 232 at follow-up). METHODS: Dietary intake (morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea) was assessed pre- and post-SRER implementation using the plate wastage method. Centre nutrition policies, menus and environments were evaluated as measures of intervention fidelity. Comparisons between baseline and follow-up were made using t tests. RESULTS: At follow-up, 80 % of centres were fully compliant with the SRER award criteria, indicating high scheme implementation and adoption. Intake increased for all core food groups (range: 0·2-0·4 servings/d, P<0·001) except for vegetable intake. Energy intake increased and improvements in intakes of eleven out of the nineteen nutrients evaluated were observed. CONCLUSIONS: SRER is effective in improving children's food and nutrient intakes at a critical time point when dietary habits and preferences are established and can inform future public health nutrition interventions in this setting.
