Development of a Quality Improvement Toolkit for Measurement and Communication of Obesity Risk in Head Starts

Start Date: January 2022

Organization: Brown University

Project Lead: Alison Tovar, PhD, MPH

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The goal of this project is to develop and test the acceptability and feasibility of a quality improvement toolkit for measurement of obesity risk in HeadStart (HS) and to describe best practices on how to best communicate this information with families. The specific study aims are to: 1) Bring together key HS stakeholders to discuss integration and coordination of anthropometric data collection and communication; 2) Develop procedures, protocols, and trainings for anthropometric data collection to be used within HS programs; 3) Test acceptability and feasibility of new procedures with at least three HS programs; 4) Convene an expert panel to discuss best practices related to communicating health behaviors and BMI with families; and 5) Draft a sample policy related to anthropometric data collection that could be adapted to HS programs nationally.

Keywords: Body mass index (BMI), Head Start

Resource Type: Commissioned Research Project Summary

Focus Areas: Diet Quality & Healthy Weight, Early Childhood

Age Group: Preschool-age children (ages 3 to 5)

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