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Head Start Programs and Preventing Childhood Obesity:
Mathematica Researcher Co-Authors Article Addressing Epidemic
Media Advisory: March 2, 2010
Contact: Amy Berridge, (609) 945-3378; Daniel M. Finkelstein, (617) 301-8996; Sue Ducat, (301) 841-9962 (Contact for Health Affairs article reprints)
Issue: Childhood obesity remains a challenge in the United States, with one-third of our children overweight or obese. Yet research has shown that the road to obesity begins early in life and is more common and difficult to address for low-income children. Even programs such as Head Start, the nation’s largest federally funded education program for preschool children, are facing difficulties addressing childhood obesity.
A study co-authored by Daniel M. Finkelstein, researcher at Mathematica Policy Research, and released this month in Health Affairs found that Head Start program directors lack money, time, and have limited knowledge for addressing obesity. The study suggests Head Start could use additional federal resources to provide healthy meals and snacks; increase training and technical assistance to help teachers learn how to encourage children’s healthy eating and physical activity; and develop staff wellness programs to support teachers in changing their behavior to act as positive role models.
Quote: “Traditionally in childhood obesity prevention, interventions are targeted directly at children. However, to prevent obesity early in life, children might be better served by supporting the teachers, child care providers, and parents who engage with children and by ensuring that child care programs have adequate resources to create healthy environments,” said Finkelstein.
Article: “Barriers to Obesity Prevention in Head Start,” Cayce C. Hughes, Rachel A. Gooze, Daniel M. Finkelstein, Robert C. Whitaker, Health Affairs, March 2010.
About Mathematica: Mathematica Policy Research, a nonpartisan research firm, provides a full range of research and data collection services, including program evaluation and policy research, survey design and data collection, research assessment and interpretation, and program performance/data management, to improve public well-being. Its clients include federal and state governments, foundations, and private-sector and international organizations. The employee-owned company, with offices in Princeton, N.J., Ann Arbor, Mich., Cambridge, Mass., Chicago, Ill., Oakland, Calif., and Washington, D.C., has conducted some of the most important studies of early childhood, health care, international, disability, education, family support, employment, and nutrition, policies and programs.