HEALTHY BODIES PROJECT: MODIFYING FAMILY AND PRESCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS TO PREVENT OBESITY

This project is designed to examine behavioral and environmental factors that are potential targets for obesity prevention. Specifically, using an experimental approach, we will test an approach to prevent childhood obesity by altering aspects of children's environments in ways that increase food literacy, increase exposure to and intake of vegetables, and increase time spent in active play. We will also determine whether providing guidance to childcare providers and caregivers on practices that promote healthy eating and activity patterns in children bolsters the effects of the classroom environmental modifications. Lastly, we will examine the efficacy of a component designed to increase children's self-regulatory capacity. Participants will include approximately 1400 predominantly low-income, preschool children ages 3 to 5 years attending center-based childcare programs in Pennsylvania and their caregivers and teachers. The results of the research component of the study will be used to inform the design of a randomized control obesity prevention trial. For the Extension component of the study, we will design a series of whiteboard animations that will be used to deliver nutrition education to low-literacy caregivers and pre-literacy children. The goal is to develop and test materials that can be widely used by various stakeholders, including childcare providers, extension educators, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) educators and other professionals. We are partnering with several local and national stakeholders, including Penn State Extension, PBS and Sesame Workshop to engage our target audience and facilitate wide dissemination of outreach materials.