Effects of a Multimodal Preference-based Parental Intervention on Preschoolers' Physical Activity Behaviour - a Cluster-randomized Trial

Heidelberg University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Obesity

Treatments: Behavioral: State-sponsored PA program; Behavioral: Participatory parent-focused intervention

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01070251

CRTLasti_PA_kiga

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study investigates whether a preschool-based physical activity intervention involving parents as active agents of behavioral change affects objectively measured physical activity in preschool children.

Full description

In the last 25 years, obesity in children has increased dramatically in Germany (Lampert et al. 2007, Stolzenberg et al., 2007) and other western societies. Lack of physical activity (PA) is one important factor contributing to obesity development. However, healthy behaviors are established early in life (adiposity rebound: Reilly 2008), which underlines the importance of early interventions. Preschools therefore might be an ideal setting for interventions to promote physical activity. While previous preschool interventions were directly aimed at the children's physical activity behaviors (e.g. promoting activity by sports lessons), parents as influential caregivers were mainly involved in educational ways and by information (e.g. newsletters, physical activity homework).

The current intervention takes a participatory approach to involve parents as active agents of behavioral change. The study aim is to evaluate the effects of the participatory preference-based parental intervention on preschoolers' objectively measured physical activity behaviour and Body Mass Index (BMI). The intervention can easily be added as a parent module to existing children-focused physical activity programmes.

In several workshops, parents are presented a set of possible project ideas for improving everyday physical activity in the preschools. After forming teams, they either select project ideas from the preexisting menu or develop ideas de novo and then implement them into the local preschool environment.

The intervention is implemented in the frame of an existing state-sponsored physical activity (PA) program offering twice weekly sports lessons by external gym trainers to preschoolers over a period of 6 months. Preschools in the control arm get the state-sponsored PA program only. Preschools in the intervention arm get the participatory parent-focused PA intervention in addition to the existing state-sponsored PA program.

Enrollment: 826 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 3 to 6 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Healthy children
• Participation in the standard physical activity lesson twice weekly

Exclusion criteria

• Age under 3 years or above 6 years
• Serious atopic dermatitis
• Genetic conditions
• Metabolic diseases
• Acute infectious diseases

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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826 participants in 2 patient groups

Existing state-sponsored PA program

Active Comparator group

Description:

standard children-focused gym lessons approach

Treatment:

Behavioral: State-sponsored PA program

Participatory intervention plus state-sponsored PA program

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participatory parent-focused intervention over nine months in addition to state-sponsored PA program

Treatment:

Behavioral: Participatory parent-focused intervention

Behavioral: State-sponsored PA program