Early care and education (ECE) programs and their educators are critical partners in addressing public health efforts around obesity. Early childhood educators experience disproportionately high rates of obesity and research has shown that their own knowledge and skills around healthy eating and physical activity is associated with their confidence and ability to model and promote healthy lifestyle behaviors to children.
The goal of this project funded by the National Institutes of Health is to fully leverage the potential of ECE programs for childhood obesity prevention by addressing the health needs of ECE educators. This project will use a cluster randomized controlled trial to assess the impact of an evidence-based weight management intervention program targeting ECE educators on their own healthy behaviors, on the diet quality and physical activity levels of the children in their care, and on the classroom environment.
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