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Evidence of the Potential Effectiveness of Centre-Based Childcare Policies and Practices on Child Diet and Physical Activity: Consolidating Evidence from Systematic Reviews of Intervention Trials and Observational Studies

  • Cardiovascular Disease (JHY Wu, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

The aims of this study are to synthesize the findings of systematic reviews to (1) determine whether centre-based childcare interventions are effective in improving child physical activity and diet and (2) identify promising modifiable centre policies and practices to improve child physical activity and diet. Four electronic databases were searched. The methodological quality of included reviews was assessed using the AMSTAR tool. For intervention effectiveness, reviews were categorized as ‘generally effective’ if more than two-thirds of primary studies demonstrated positive effects.

Recent Findings

Database searches yielded 1164 unique citations of which 22 reviews were included. Three of 16 physical activity reviews, including one of the two higher quality reviews, and the largest and most recent review to date, reported that the interventions were generally effective in improving physical activity. One of nine nutrition reviews reported that interventions were generally effective at improving dietary intake. This review was of moderate quality and was the largest and most recent review of dietary outcomes in children in this setting. The most consistently reported policies and practices associated with improved child physical activity included those targeting the physical environment (playground markings, equipment, space), educator qualifications and training, and structured physical activities. Policies and practices associated with improved child diet included food availability and menu modification, positive peer modelling, and including parents.

Summary

There is increasing evidence from high-quality, recent systematic reviews that childcare-based interventions can be effective at improving child physical activity. Systematic review evidence regarding the effects of intervention on child diet is more equivocal.

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Acknowledgements

Sze Lin Yoong is supported by a National Heart Foundation of Australia Postdoctoral Fellowship. Luke Wolfenden is supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Career Development Fellowship and Heart Foundation Future Leader Fellowship. Stefanie Vandevijvere is supported by a fellowship from the National Heart Foundation of New Zealand. Fiona Stacey and Alice Grady are supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) project grant (APP 1102943). We would also like to acknowledge the support provided by Hunter New England Population Health and the Hunter Medical Research Institute.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia

    Fiona G. Stacey, Meghan Finch, Luke Wolfenden, Alice Grady, Jannah Jones, Rachel Sutherland & Sze Lin Yoong

  2. Hunter New England Population Health, Locked Bag 10, Wallsend, NSW, Australia

    Fiona G. Stacey, Meghan Finch, Luke Wolfenden, Alice Grady, Kylie Jessop, Taya Wedesweiler, Kate Bartlem, Jannah Jones, Rachel Sutherland & Sze Lin Yoong

  3. Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton, NSW, Australia

    Fiona G. Stacey, Meghan Finch, Luke Wolfenden, Alice Grady, Kate Bartlem, Jannah Jones, Rachel Sutherland & Sze Lin Yoong

  4. Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia

    Fiona G. Stacey, Meghan Finch, Luke Wolfenden, Alice Grady, Kate Bartlem, Jannah Jones, Rachel Sutherland & Sze Lin Yoong

  5. School of Psychology, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia

    Kate Bartlem

  6. School of Population Health, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

    Stefanie Vandevijvere

  7. The George Institute for Global Health and the Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

    Jason H. Y. Wu

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  1. Fiona G. Stacey
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fiona G. Stacey.

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Conflict of Interest

Fiona G. Stacey, Meghan Finch, Luke Wolfenden, Alice Grady, Kylie Jessop, Taya Wedesweiler, Kate Bartlem, Jannah Jones, Rachel Sutherland, Stefanie Vandevijvere, Jason H.Y. Wu, and Sze Lin Yoong declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Stacey, F.G., Finch, M., Wolfenden, L. et al. Evidence of the Potential Effectiveness of Centre-Based Childcare Policies and Practices on Child Diet and Physical Activity: Consolidating Evidence from Systematic Reviews of Intervention Trials and Observational Studies. Curr Nutr Rep 6, 228–246 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13668-017-0212-z

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