Parents report intrapersonal, interpersonal, and environmental barriers to supporting healthy eating and physical activity among their preschoolers

2008 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 338-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Dwyer ◽  
Lisa Needham ◽  
Janis Randall Simpson ◽  
Elizabeth Shaver Heeney
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Preschool Children ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Ecological Model ◽  
Healthy Foods ◽  
Environmental Barriers ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Childcare Centre ◽  
Qualitative Descriptive ◽  
English Speaking

There is an increasing trend in childhood obesity in Canada and many preschool children are overweight or obese. The objective of this study was to explore parents’ experiences and challenges in supporting healthy eating and physical activity among their preschool children. A qualitative descriptive study involving 5 focus groups was conducted. A convenience sample of 39 parents from 3 childcare centres in Hamilton, Ontario, participated. Parents were English speaking and had a child aged 2–5 years attending the childcare centre for at least 3 months. The research team read transcripts of the audio-taped sessions and used a constant comparison approach to develop themes, which involved coding comments by continually referring to previously coded comments for comparison. The social ecological model was used to organize the themes into 3 higher-level categories: (i) intrapersonal (individual): preschoolers’ preferences and health; (ii) interpersonal (interactions): parents’ and others’ different views and practices, influence of the childcare centre, parents’ lack of time, and family structure; and (iii) physical environment: accessibility of healthy foods, preschoolers with special needs, media influence, weather, lack of safety, and inaccessible resources. Parents perceived that there are various intrapersonal, interpersonal, and environmental barriers to supporting healthy eating and physical activity among their children. Program planners and health professionals can consider these barriers when developing interventions to promote healthy bodyweights among preschoolers.

Building Evidence to Prevent Childhood Obesity: Lessons from the Portland Healthy Eating Active Living (Heal) Coalition

2009 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 21-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret Everett ◽  
Angie Mejia ◽  
Olivia Quiroz
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Childhood Obesity ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Ecological Model ◽  
Health Promotion Program ◽  
Grocery Stores ◽  
Active Living ◽  
Healthy Foods ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
The Impact

The Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) Coalition is a community-based health promotion program begun in 2006 in North Portland's Portsmouth neighborhood. The program seeks to promote community health and prevent childhood obesity by addressing barriers at local, regional and policy levels, with particular attention to the built environment. This article describes the findings of a program evaluation based on interviews with school staff and Latino parents. Important themes include the impact of the closure of a neighborhood school, access to grocery stores with affordable healthy foods, and concern about school meals. The comprehensive approach of programs like HEAL, which uses the socio-ecological model of health promotion, lends itself well to the participation of applied social scientists.

Challenges of being new to Canada: considerations for physical activity

2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 25-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimberley D. Curtin ◽  
Christina C. Loitz ◽  
Nancy Spencer-Cavaliere ◽  
Ernest Nene Khalema
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Ecological Model ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Social Ecological ◽  
Qualitative Descriptive ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
Multicultural Health

Immigrants to Canada are less likely to be physically active compared with non-immigrants, and the interrelations between personal and environmental factors that influence physical activity for immigrants are largely unexplored. The goal of this qualitative descriptive study was to understand how the experience of being new to Canada impacts opportunities and participation in physical activity. Two focus group interviews with immigrants to Canada were conducted. The first group ( n=7) included multicultural health brokers. The second group ( n=14) included English as a second language students. Qualitative content analysis was used to determine three themes consistent with the research question: transition to Canadian life, commitments and priorities, and accessibility. Discussion was framed using a social ecological model. Implications for practice and policy are suggested including enhanced community engagement, and organizational modifications. Overall, the development and implementation of physical activity policies and practices for newcomers to Canada should be centered on newcomers’ perspectives and experiences.

Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Preferences of a Sample of Urban American Indians

2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 428-434 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn S. Keim ◽  
Janyce Cagan Agruss ◽  
Ellen M. Williams ◽  
Louis Fogg ◽  
Ann Minnick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
American Indians ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Community Health Center ◽  
Healthy Foods ◽  
Program Delivery ◽  
Existing Problems ◽  
Human Contact ◽  
Telephone Coaching ◽  
Barriers To Physical Activity

This study identified program delivery preferences and barriers to physical activity and healthy eating. Ninety-nine urban dwelling American Indians completed a questionnaire at powwows, community events, and a community health center. Most frequently selected program delivery preferences were coaching or other human contact, with fewer willing to use computer or telephone coaching. Fifty-six selected attending 8, 12, or 16 sessions. Most frequently selected barriers to physical activity were lack of time ( n = 48) and pain from existing problems ( n = 33). Frequently identified barriers to eating healthy foods included expense ( n = 42), uncertainty regarding what foods are healthy ( n = 25), extra time needed for preparation ( n = 22), and lack of knowledge of how to prepare healthy food ( n = 22). Findings showed the need for programs to focus on decreasing the barriers of time for physical activity and healthy eating and encourage doing organized physical activity (not necessarily exercise) with others to increase physical activity.

scholarly journals The effect of different environmental conditions on the physical activity of preschool children in Estonia

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
pp. 42-50
Author(s):  
Sirle Nekraš ◽  
Mikola Misjuk
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Preschool Children ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Free Play ◽  
Background Music ◽  
Sport Equipment ◽  
Childcare Centre ◽  
Children’S Physical Activity

The purpose of the study is to investigate the effect of different environmental conditions on the physical activity of preschool children. The experiment took place in Estonian childcare centre during the free playtime. Fifteen children aged 6–7 years from childcare centre participated in the research. Physical activity was measured using pedometers Fitbit Zip™. Results show that in comparison to the usual free play the physical activity of children increased statistically significantly by 83% when background music was played, by 50% when sport equipment was provided and by 101% when both environmental conditions were combined. It was found that compared to the usual free play, children’s activity increased the least when only sport equipment was provided, while children’s activity increased more when background music was played and increased the most when music with sport equipment was combined. Physical activity did not differ when only background music and music with sport equipment were used. It can be summarised that the background music and opportunity to use portable sport equipment increases the physical activity of children during free play. Background music has greater impact on the activity than portable sport equipment. Children’s physical activity can be effectively increased in childcare centre by using simple modifications such as background music and portable sport equipment during free play.

scholarly journals Motivators and Barriers to Engaging in Healthy Eating and Physical Activity

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 330-343 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lee M. Ashton ◽  
Melinda J. Hutchesson ◽  
Megan E. Rollo ◽  
Philip J. Morgan ◽  
Clare E. Collins
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Body Image ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Vegetable Intake ◽  
Young Men ◽  
Behavioral Factors ◽  
Healthy Foods ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Cross Sectional

Many Australian young men (18-25 years) fail to meet recommendations in national dietary or physical activity (PA) guidelines. However, there is a lack of understanding of their perspectives on PA and diet to inform intervention design. This study examined young men’s motivators and barriers to healthy eating and PA, along with differences by demographic and behavioral factors. A cross-sectional online survey was completed by 282 men aged 18 to 25 years in Australia. Results identified the most common motivators for healthy eating included improving health (63.5%), body image (52.3%), and increasing energy (32.1%). Motivators for PA included improving body image (44.6%), fitness (44.2%), and health (41.0%). Common barriers to healthy eating were access to unhealthy foods (61.1%), time to cook/prepare healthy foods (55.0%), and motivation to cook healthy foods (50.7%). Barriers for PA included motivation (66.3%), time (57.8%), and cost of equipment/facilities (33.3%). Significant differences ( p < .01) in motivators to healthy eating and/or PA were identified for BMI category, marital status, PA level, alcohol intake, and stress levels. Significant differences were identified for barriers to healthy eating and/or PA by BMI, PA level, stress, and fruit and vegetable intake, assessed using Pearson’s chi-square test. Findings suggest that promotion of benefits related to health, appearance/body image, increased energy and fitness, and addressing key barriers including motivation, time, financial restraints, and accessibility of unhealthy foods, could engage young men in improving lifestyle behaviors. Differences by demographic and behavioral factors suggest development of tailored programs to address diversity among young men may be required.

scholarly journals Healthy conversation skills: increasing competence and confidence in front-line staff

2012 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 700-707 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Black ◽  
Wendy Lawrence ◽  
Sue Cradock ◽  
Georgia Ntani ◽  
Tannaze Tinati ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Staff Training ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Healthy Foods ◽  
Front Line ◽  
Conversation Skills ◽  
Post Evaluation ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Children’S Centres

AbstractObjective(i) To assess change in confidence in having conversations that support parents with healthy eating and physical activity post-training. (ii) To assess change in staff competence in using ‘open discovery’ questions (those generally beginning with ‘how’ and ‘what’ that help individuals reflect and identify barriers and solutions) post-training. (iii) To examine the relationship between confidence and competence post-training.DesignA pre–post evaluation of ‘Healthy Conversation Skills’, a staff training intervention.SettingSure Start Children's Centres in Southampton, England.SubjectsA total of 145 staff working in Sure Start Children's Centres completed the training, including play workers (43 %) and community development or family support workers (35 %).ResultsWe observed an increase in median confidence rating for having conversations about healthy eating and physical activity (both P < 0·001), and in using ‘open discovery’ questions (P < 0·001), after staff attended the ‘Healthy Conversation Skills’ training. We also found a positive relationship between the use of ‘open discovery’ questions and confidence in having conversations about healthy eating post-training (r = 0·21, P = 0·01), but a non-significant trend was observed for having conversations about physical activity (r = 0·15, P = 0·06).ConclusionsThe ‘Healthy Conversation Skills’ training proved effective at increasing the confidence of staff working at Sure Start Children's Centres to have more productive conversations with parents about healthy eating. Wider implementation of these skills may be a useful public health nutrition capacity building strategy to help community workers support families with young children to eat more healthy foods.

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