Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #120510

Daniel French, MS¹, Kyle Restina, BS, and Barbara A. Dennison, MD³. (1) Obesity Prevention Program, New York State Department of Health, The Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12237, 518-408-5142, djf05@health.state.ny.us, (2) Bureau of Health Risk Reduction, Division of Chronic Disease Prevention and Adult Health, New York State Department of Health, 150 Broadway, 3rd Floor West, Albany, NY 12204

Background: Obesity prevalence has increased dramatically, especially among low-income populations, and affects even preschool-age children. Purpose: To increase physical activity level of children and staff attending Head Start Centers. Methods: As part of a multi-component demonstration project, Albany County Head Start administration and NY state staff collaborated to implement the Early Childhood Sports, Play, and Active Recreation for Kids (SPARK) program at 4 intervention centers (N=217), with 10 control centers (N=252) during 2004-5. Head Start provided staff time for the 2-day SPARK training and agreed to implement the program 15-20 minutes/day, 3-4 times per week. SPARK program materials were provided by the state program. To encourage active staff participation, a staff wellness program promoted walking/moving 10,000 Steps/day, using self-monitoring through personal pedometers. Results: Thirty seven and 23 staff completed the 1st and 2nd day, respectively, of SPARK training. Thirty Head Start staff participated in the pedometer study, initially averaging 6,172 steps/day. At baseline, children's anthropometric measures were obtained by Head Start staff and each parent reported his/her child's diet, physical activity and TV behaviors. These measures will be reassessed at follow-up. Discussion: Preschool-age children and child care centers are important, exciting, and largely unexplored areas to begin obesity-prevention efforts, including increasing physical activity levels. Childcare centers also present unique challenges.

Learning Objectives:

• At the end of the session, participants will be able to
• • Describe the process for implementing a preschool physical activity intervention.
• • Discuss the components of a SPARK Early Childhood curriculum
• • Recognize lessons learned from a one-year pilot intervention

Keywords: School-Based Programs, Physical Activity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.