Skip to main content
Log in

Effects of a Cognitive–Behaviorally Based Physical Activity Treatment for 4- and 5-Year-Old Children Attending US Preschools

  • Published:
International Journal of Behavioral Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Inadequate volumes of physical activity may be associated with the increases in inappropriately high weight in children of 5 years of age and younger. Preschools have typically lacked sufficient time in daily physical activity.

Purpose

A preschool-administered physical activity treatment based on social cognitive and self-efficacy theory (Start For Life) was tested for its association with increased physical activity and reduced body mass index (BMI).

Methods

Data from accelerometer and BMI assessments over a 9-month preschool year (18 treatment and 8 control classes of 17 to 20 children each; mean age = 4.4 years) were used to contrast the behaviorally based treatment of 30 min per day with a usual care condition of the same duration. The sample was primarily African-American. Preschool teachers administered all processes.

Results

The Start For Life treatment was associated with a significantly greater percentage of the preschool day in moderate-to-vigorous and vigorous physical activity (approximately 30 min per week more), with sedentary time unaffected. The treatment was also associated with a significant reduction in BMI, with effect sizes greatest in overweight and obese children.

Conclusions

Although results were positive in contrast to usual care and other related interventions, the specific sample requires that the Start For Life treatment undergo sufficient replication to increase confidence in generalizability of the findings to others. Although reduction in sedentary time may require a different strategy, the practical application of the present treatment suggests possibilities for addressing overweight through increasing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in preschool settings.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Tremblay MS, Willms JD. Secular trends in the body mass index of Canadian children. Can Med Assoc J. 2000;163:1429–33.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Ogden CL, Caroll MD, Curtin LR, Lamb MM, Flegal KM. Prevalence of high body mass index in US children and adolescence. JAMA. 2010;303:242–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Reilly JJ, Dorosty AR. Epidemic of obesity in UK children. Lancet. 1999;354:1874–5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Booth ML, Wake M, Armstrong T, Chey T, Haskelth K, Mathur S. The epidemiology of overweight and obesity among Australian children and adolescents, 1995–97. Aust NZ J Pub Health. 2001;25:162–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Denker M, Thorsson O, Karlsson MK, Linden C, Eiberg S, Wollmer P, et al. Daily physical activity related to body fat in children in children aged 8–11 years. J Pediatr. 2006;149:38–42.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Must A, Tybor DJ. Physical activity and sedentary behavior: a review of longitudinal studies of weight and adiposity in youth. Int J Obes. 2005;29 Suppl 2:S84–96.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Pate RR, Pfeiffer KA, Trost SG, Ziegler P, Dowda M. Physical activity among children attending preschools. Pediatrics. 2004;114:1258–63.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Fisher A, Reilly JJ, Kelly LA, Montgomery C, Williamson A, Paton JY, et al. Fundamental movement skills and habitual physical activity in young children. Med Sci Sport Exerc. 2005;37:684–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Ward DS, Vaughn A, McWilliams C, Hales D. Physical activity at child care settings: review and research recommendations. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2009;3:474–88.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Kesketh KD, Campbell KJ. Interventions to prevent obesity in 0–5 year olds: an updated systematic review of the literature. Obesity. 2010;18 Suppl 1:S27–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Baranowski T, Lin LS, Wetter DW, Resnicow K, Hearn MD. Theory as mediating variables: why aren't community interventions working as desired? Ann Epidemiol. 1997;7(Suppl):S89–95.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Bandura A. Self-efficacy: the exercise of control. New York: Freeman; 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Bandura A. Social foundations of thought and action: a social cognitive theory. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall; 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Annesi JJ, Smith AE, Tennant G. Effects of the Start For Life treatment on physical activity in primarily African American preschool children of ages 3–5 years. Psychol Health Med. 2013;18(3):300–9. doi:10.1080/13548506.2012.712704.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Annesi JJ, Smith AE, Tennant G. Cognitive-behavioral physical activity treatment in African-American preschoolers: effects of age, sex, and BMI. J Paediatr Child Health. 2013;49(2):E128–32. doi:10.1111/jpc.12082.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2000 CDC growth charts: United States. 2000. http://www.cdc.gov/growthcharts. Accessed 5 May 2012.

  17. Cole TJ, Faith MS, Pietrobelli A, Heo M. What is the best measure of adiposity change in growing children: BMI, BMI %, BMI z-score, or BMI centile? Eur J Clin Nutr. 2005;59:419–25.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Benham-Deal Y. Preschool children's accumulated and sustained physical activity. Percept Mot Skills. 2005;100:443–50.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Burdette H, Whitaker R. Resurrecting free play in young children: looking beyond fitness and fatness to attention, affiliation, and affect. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2005;159:46–50.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Pate RR, Almeida MJ, McIver KL, Pfeiffer KA, Dowda M. Validation and calibration of an accelerometer in preschool children. Obesity. 2006;14:2000–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to James J. Annesi.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Annesi, J.J., Smith, A.E. & Tennant, G.A. Effects of a Cognitive–Behaviorally Based Physical Activity Treatment for 4- and 5-Year-Old Children Attending US Preschools. Int.J. Behav. Med. 20, 562–566 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-013-9361-7

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-013-9361-7

Keywords

Navigation