The Impact of the "Nutrition Enrichment and Healthy Living Model" ( NEHLM) on Diet Quality, Physical Activity and Dental Health Among Children From Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Families in Beer Sheva

Soroka University Medical Center258 enrolled

Overview

Childhood socioeconomic status (SES) is related to poor physical health, obesity, elevated cardiovascular risk factors and iron deficiency anemia. We plan to offer a comprehensive framework allowing the "Nutrition Enrichment and Healthy Living Model" (NEHLM) among a low SES Kindergarten children. The model offered is designed to take into account the current economic status of the child's family. We shall conduct a randomized controlled trial to assess the efficacy of the intervention. Our main objective: To compare the influence of the intervention on changes in food consumption, physical activity and ,and caries rates in the children in kindergartens where it is applied versus the control kindergartens. The research hypothesis: Integrative Nutrition Enrichment and Healthy Living Model (NEHLM) will improve health behaviors among children and parents in comparison to control intervention (physical activity only).

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

258

Conditions

Childhood Obesity

Interventions

The "Nutrition Enrichment and Healthy Living Model" (NEHLM) is an Integrative model covering variety of lifestyle issues such as nutrition, dental care, and physical activity. The model will be applied to kindergartens and a sample of their parents. Children participating will be given 10 lessons in nutrition, 5 lessons in dental-care and 20 physical activity lessons. Parents for children in this group will be given 2 nutrition-education meetings and a meeting with a dental clinician.2 additional meetings will be held for parents and children together, one in nutrition and one in dental-care.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 48 MonthsMax age: 84 MonthsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Kindergarten children aged 4-7 Children from kindergartens defined as Low- SES population (by local municipality) * Children whose parents agree to participate in the research Exclusion Criteria: * Children who suffer from any chronic disease * Children who suffer from developmental problems * Children who participate in a weight reduction treatment or program * Children or parents who have any psychiatric problem or diagnosis

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Children's weight and Height

Time frame: Baseline, post intervention and at 4 months post intervention termination

Secondary Outcomes

Caries rate (DMFT score)

Time frame: Baseline, post intervention