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Implementation of healthy eating and physical activity practices in Australian early childhood education and care services: A cross-sectional study
journal contribution
posted on 2023-11-02, 03:42 authored by M Lum, A Grady, L Wolfenden, C Lecathelinais, S Lin YoongBackground: The monitoring of healthy eating and physical activity environments is recommended to support population health. Early childhood education and care (ECEC) services are a key setting to deliver obesity prevention strategies as they reach the majority of children aged under five years and have existing supporting infrastructure. Objectives: The aim of this study was to i) describe the prevalence of implementation of evidence-based healthy eating and physical activity practices in an Australian sample of ECEC services, and ii) examine associations between implementation of practices and service characteristics. Methods: A random sample of 2,100 centre-based ECEC services across Australia were invited to participate in a cross-sectional survey online or via telephone (August 2021-April 2022). Service characteristics and implementation of 18 evidence-based healthy eating and physical activity practices were assessed. Descriptive statistics and linear mixed regression analyses were performed. Results: A total of 1,028 (51.8%) eligible services participated. The healthy eating and physical activity practices with the lowest prevalence of implementation were related to encouraging children to consume age-appropriate beverages (17.9%) and providing families with child physical activity education via workshops or meetings (14.6%), respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in the implementation of healthy eating practices by service characteristics, with long day care services implementing significantly more practices than preschools (p < 0.01). Conclusion: There is room to improve the implementation of evidence-based healthy eating and physical activity practices ECEC services. Implementation efforts should be directed towards preschools.
History
Journal
Preventive Medicine ReportsVolume
36Article number
102455Pagination
102455-102455Location
United StatesPublisher DOI
ISSN
2211-3355eISSN
2211-3355Language
enPublisher
Elsevier BVUsage metrics
Keywords
Early childhood education and careHealth promotionHealthy eatingPhysical activityPolicyPracticePublic healthPreventionNutritionPediatric Research InitiativeClinical ResearchObesityBehavioral and Social SciencePediatric3 Prevention of disease and conditions, and promotion of well-being3.1 Primary prevention interventions to modify behaviours or promote wellbeingMetabolic and endocrine4 Quality Education
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