An Intervention to Improve Nutrition and Physical Activity in Preschoolers in Cuenca, Ecuador

Obesity Clinical Trial

Official title:

Impact of an Intervention to Improve Nutrition and Physical Activity in Preschoolers in Cuenca, Ecuador

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT02451410
• Other study ID #: Intervention1
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• First received: May 11, 2015
• Last updated: October 30, 2017
• Start date: September 2015
• Est. completion date: June 2017

Study information

• Verified date: October 2017
• Source: Universidad de Cuenca
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial 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.

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.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 307
• Est. completion date: June 2017
• Est. primary completion date: June 2017
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 3 Years to 4 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

Any child attending a preschool of the municipality

Exclusion Criteria:

Any child whose parents decline inclusion in the study

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Obesity
• Overweight
• Thinness
• Underweight

Intervention

Other:
• Nutrition and physical activity
The investigators will design an educational and behavioral program focused on health promotion. Didactic material will be developed for teachers and educational material will be developed for parents. For children, the investigators will design educational and playtime materials that encourage healthy eating and physical activity.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Ecuador	Centro Infantil 12 de Abril	Cuenca
Ecuador	Centro Infantil 27 de Febrero	Cuenca
Ecuador	Centro Infantil 9 de Octubre	Cuenca
Ecuador	Centro Infantil El Arenal	Cuenca
Ecuador	Centro Infantil El Cebollar	Cuenca
Ecuador	Centro Infantil El Condor	Cuenca
Ecuador	Centro Infantil San Blas	Cuenca
Ecuador	Centro Infantil Sol de Talentos	Cuenca
Ecuador	Centro Infantil Totoracocha	Cuenca

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Universidad de Cuenca	Universidad de Antioquia

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Ecuador, 

References & Publications (1)

Abril V, Manuel-y-keenoy B, Solà R, García 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. — View Citation

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Fruit and vegetable consumption habits	Changes assessed using a pre-/post-intervention questionnaire evaluating the number of days per week fruits/vegetables were consumed as snacks at home.	Changes over 1 year (with 30-day recall). Assessment pre/post intervention (approx 9 months in between).
Primary	Drinking habits	Changes assessed using a pre-/post-intervention questionnaire evaluating the number of days per week water, fruit juices, and soft drinks are consumed at home.	Changes over 1 year (with 30-day recall). Assessment pre/post intervention (approx 9 months in between).
Primary	Screen time habits	Changes assessed using a pre-/post-intervention questionnaire evaluating weekly hours of time spent watching television, using the computer, and playing videogames at home.	Changes over 1 year (with 30-day recall). Assessment pre/post intervention (approx 9 months in between).
Secondary	Nutritional status	Changes assessed using anthropometry	1 year. Assessment pre/post intervention (approx 9 months in between).