Clinical trial NCT02451410: An Intervention to Improve Nutrition and Physical Activity in Preschoolers in Cuenca, Ecuador
Official title: Impact of an Intervention to Improve Nutrition and Physical Activity in Preschoolers in Cuenca, Ecuador
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Obesity
Overweight
Underweight
Keywords: Nutrition
Physical activity
Overweight
Obesity
Malnutrition
Lead sponsor: Universidad de Cuenca
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: Universidad de Antioquia
First posted: 2015-05-22
Enrollment: 307
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 3
Maximum age (years): 4
Standard ages: CHILD
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Intervention model: SEQUENTIAL
Primary purpose: PREVENTION

Brief summary: The aim of this study is to design and evaluate an educational and behavioral intervention focused on improving nutrition and physical activity habits among preschoolers in Cuenca, Ecuador, with the overarching goal of preventing overweight/obesity and promoting the formation of healthy nutrition/physical activity habits.

Detailed description: In Ecuador and in the city of Cuenca, the prevalence of obesity is high (approximately 22% of the population). Simultaneously, there is high prevalence of chronic malnutrition (e.g., stunting). In a previous study in school-aged children in Cuenca, the prevalence of overweight or obese was 30%.

The objective of this study is to design an intervention to improve nutrition and physical activity habits and behaviors in preschoolers. The study will begin with a baseline survey that will be used to develop the educational and behavioral intervention. The intervention will consist of didactic material for teachers, educational material for parents, and activities for the children. The investigators will carry out the intervention over the course of the school year. The intervention will be primarily delivered in the preschool setting, but will also include workshops for parents.

The investigators hope that this study will help promote the health of children in Cuenca and can be a pilot study to test similar interventions in larger populations in Ecuador.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

Any child attending a preschool of the municipality

Exclusion Criteria:

Any child whose parents decline inclusion in the study

Primary outcomes:
measure: Fruit and vegetable consumption habits
timeFrame: Changes over 1 year (with 30-day recall). Assessment pre/post intervention (approx 9 months in between).
measure: Drinking habits
timeFrame: Changes over 1 year (with 30-day recall). Assessment pre/post intervention (approx 9 months in between).
measure: Screen time habits
timeFrame: Changes over 1 year (with 30-day recall). Assessment pre/post intervention (approx 9 months in between).
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Nutritional status
timeFrame: 1 year. Assessment pre/post intervention (approx 9 months in between).
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Cuenca
country: Ecuador
facility: Centro Infantil 12 de Abril
city: Cuenca
country: Ecuador
facility: Centro Infantil 27 de Febrero
city: Cuenca
country: Ecuador
facility: Centro Infantil 9 de Octubre
city: Cuenca
country: Ecuador
facility: Centro Infantil El Arenal
city: Cuenca
country: Ecuador
facility: Centro Infantil El Cebollar
city: Cuenca
country: Ecuador
facility: Centro Infantil El Condor
city: Cuenca
country: Ecuador
facility: Centro Infantil San Blas
city: Cuenca
country: Ecuador
facility: Centro Infantil Sol de Talentos
city: Cuenca
country: Ecuador
facility: Centro Infantil Totoracocha
Study officials:
affiliation: Universidad de Cuenca
name: Victoria Abril, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Abril V, Manuel-y-keenoy B, Sola R, Garcia JL, Nessier C, Rojas R, Donoso S, Arija V. Prevalence of overweight and obesity among 6-to 9-year-old school children in Cuenca, Ecuador: relationship with physical activity, poverty, and eating habits. Food Nutr Bull. 2013 Dec;34(4):388-401. doi: 10.1177/156482651303400404.