This article describes obesity prevention activities directed at staff, parents and community partners in Head Start, the United States’ largest federally-funded early childhood education program. On the bases of survey data, researchers found that 60% of responding Head Start programs trained staff about feeding children, and 63% trained staff about children’s gross motor activity. Eighty-four percent of programs offered parent workshops on preparing or shopping for healthy foods, while 43% offered workshops to teach parents how to encourage gross motor activity at home. Finally, 97% of programs reported having at least one community partnership to encourage healthy eating, and 75% had at least one partnership to encourage gross motor activity.
Published: May 2010
ID #: 63042
Journal: Prev Chronic Dis
Authors: Gooze RA, Hughes CC, Finkelstein DM, Whitaker RC
Age Group: Adults and Families
Keywords: Child Care/Preschool, Head Start
Focus Area: Early Childhood
Resource Type: Journal Article
Race/Ethnicity: Multi-racial/ethnic
State: National
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