Environmental characteristics of early childhood education and care centres and young children's weight status: A systematic review

Zhiguang Zhang; João R Pereira; Eduarda Sousa-Sá; Anthony D Okely; Xiaoqi Feng; Rute Santos

doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2017.10.002

Environmental characteristics of early childhood education and care centres and young children's weight status: A systematic review

Prev Med. 2018 Jan:106:13-25. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2017.10.002. Epub 2017 Oct 14.

Authors

Zhiguang Zhang¹, João R Pereira², Eduarda Sousa-Sá³, Anthony D Okely⁴, Xiaoqi Feng⁵, Rute Santos⁶

Affiliations

¹ Early Start Research Institute, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: zz886@uowmail.edu.au.
² Early Start Research Institute, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia; Research Unit for Sport and Physical Activity, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
³ Early Start Research Institute, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia.
⁴ Early Start Research Institute, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia; Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia.
⁵ Early Start Research Institute, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia; Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia; Population Wellbeing and Environment Research Lab, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia.
⁶ Early Start Research Institute, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia; Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia; Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure; University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.

PMID: 29038034
DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2017.10.002

Abstract

The aim of this systematic review was to summarize ECEC environmental correlates of weight status in children under the age of 6years. Six databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, Scopus, and Web of Science) were searched until March 2017. Observational studies examining the relationship between ECEC environmental characteristics and weight status in children aged 0-6years were included. Data was extracted using a predesigned form. Eight studies, representing 4862 children, met the inclusion criteria. Twenty-two environmental characteristics were identified and classified into four domains (physical, political, economic, and sociocultural); of these, six correlates were found. 'Active environment' 'sedentary opportunities', 'active play time', 'high sugar and high fat served', 'educators' weight' and 'educators' habitual physical activity level' were associated with weight status in young children. However, for most environmental characteristics examined, strong evidence is not available yet, due to variations across studies on the measures of environmental characteristics and analytical methodologies. Stronger empirical evidence in greater quantity is needed. Future studies in this area are recommended to investigate the environmental influence using an ecological approach and to examine the potential mediators, with a focus on the settings of family-based centres and samples representing toddlers and/or infants.

Keywords: Childcare; Obesity; Pre-schoolers; Toddlers.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review
Systematic Review

MeSH terms

Body Mass Index*
Child Day Care Centers / organization & administration*
Child, Preschool
Environment*
Exercise / physiology
Health Behavior
Humans
Obesity
Sedentary Behavior