Arya Ansari|Kierra Pettit|Elizabeth T. Gershoff
Combating Obesity in Head Start
The University of Texas at Austin|Health and Human Development (2HD) Research Network|The University of Texas at Austin|Health and Human Development (2HD) Research Network|The University of Texas at Austin|Health and Human Development (2HD) Research Network
objective determine whether increased outdoor play time head start associated greater changes body mass index bmi course preschool year method authors used data 2810 children family child experiences survey 2006 cohort childrens spring bmi outcome continuously measured dichotomized measure risk obesity authors conducted weighted regression analyses controlling childlevel familylevel schoollevel covariates including preschool entry bmi results children played outdoors school roughly 37 minutes per day little variation across halfday fullday programs children played outdoors bmi decreased preschool year 05 95 confidence interval ci 008 001 less likely obese odds ratio 099 95 ci 098099 difference high levels low levels outdoor play corresponded 018 bmi points 42 reduction childrens risk obesity sixty minutes tipping point association outdoor play time improvements childrens bmi associations also stronger among children obese start year less active home living unsafe neighborhoods conclusion outdoor play time head start associated decreases childrens bmi scores thus may serve important means preventing obesity head start programs consider establishing clear guidelines encouraging outdoor time