Stanford Preschool Physical Activity Project

• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00285792
• Recruitment Status: Completed
• First Posted: February 2, 2006
• Last Update Posted: October 5, 2006
• Sponsor: Stanford University
• Information provided by: Stanford University

Tracking Information

• First Submitted Date: January 31, 2006
• First Posted Date: February 2, 2006
• Last Update Posted Date: October 5, 2006
• Study Start Date: December 2005
• Primary Completion Date: Not Provided
• Current Primary Outcome Measures (submitted: January 31, 2006): Children's physical activity levels will be monitored Monday thru Friday of the experimental intervention week using the ActiGraph Accelerometer
• Original Primary Outcome Measures: Same as current
• Current Secondary Outcome Measures: Not Provided
• Original Secondary Outcome Measures: Not Provided
• Current Other Pre-specified Outcome Measures: Not Provided
• Original Other Pre-specified Outcome Measures: Not Provided

Descriptive Information

• Brief Title: Stanford Preschool Physical Activity Project
• Official Title: Stanford Preschool Physical Activity Project
• Brief Summary: The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of increasing the amount of time spent in recess (outside playtime) on overall daily physical activity in Hispanic preschool age children attending full-day and half-day preschool programs. We hypothesize that increasing recess (outside playtime) by 60 minutes in participants attending full-day and 30 minutes in participants attending half-day of preschool will increase average daily physical activity during the intervention days. We also hypothesize that children will not compensate for the increased recess (outside playtime) by decreasing physical activity outside of school during the intervention days.

Detailed Description

Childhood obesity has dramatically increased in the past two decades. The increased prevalence of obesity in Hispanic children is even more alarming. Obesity is a known risk factor for the development of a wide range of chronic diseases in both children and adults, and overweight status tends to track from childhood into adulthood. Therefore, many experts have recommended that obesity prevention should be initiated during early childhood, particularly in preschool-aged children, to prevent the excess co-morbidities associated with obesity throughout the lifespan. However, less is known about the prevention of obesity in young children.

One factor associated with the increased prevalence of overweight and obesity in children is a decrease in physical activity level and an increase in sedentary lifestyle. Even though approximately 61% of children ages 3 - 5 years of age spend a part of their day in some form of early child care program (day care centers, nursery schools, Head Start, and pre-kindergarten programs) only a few studies have been conducted to examine their daily physical activity level while they are attending preschool. Since the majority of young children spend a part of their day in a preschool setting, this setting could potential play an integral role in increasing their daily physical activity level.

Experts have recommended that in order to meet the current guidelines for daily physical activity (at least 120 minutes/day), planned and/or free playtime should be incorporated into a preschooler's daily schedule. Direct observation indicates that preschoolers spend 27 - 40% of their recess time engaged in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. By increasing children's time in recess it is possible to increase their daily physical activity level. Therefore the purpose of this study is to examine the effects of increasing the amount of time spent in recess on overall daily physical activity in preschool age children.

Following preliminary screening, participants selected to participant in this study will undergo baseline assessment. All participants will complete two days of baseline conditioning prior to the initiation of the experimental intervention. The experimental intervention will consist of adding an additional recess period for two consecutive school days. Participants' physical activity will be monitored during the baseline conditioning and intervention days. The experimental intervention will last for one week.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Study Phase: Phase 1; Phase 2
• Study Design: Allocation: Randomized; Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment; Masking: None (Open Label); Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Condition: Obesity
• Intervention: Behavioral: Physical Activity
• Study Arms: Not Provided
• Publications *: Not Provided

Recruitment Information

• Recruitment Status: Completed
• Enrollment (submitted: January 31, 2006): 60
• Original Enrollment: Same as current
• Study Completion Date: March 2006
• Primary Completion Date: Not Provided

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

- Hispanic children between 3 - 5 years of age on the date of randomization. A child is defined as Hispanic if their parent/guardian identifies the child's ethnicity as "Hispanic" or "Latino", regardless of race.

Exclusion Criteria:

Children will not be eligible if they have a condition limiting their participation in the intervention (unable to participate in routine outdoor play time at school, requiring oxygen supplementation for exertion, developmental or physical disability preventing participations in the interventions, participants who can not increase their physical activity for any reason); if they have a condition limiting participation in the assessment (parent/guardian is not able to read surveys in English or Spanish, if child is unable to wear the activity monitor); or if parent/guardian is unable to read, understand or complete informed consent in English or Spanish.

Sex/Gender

• Sexes Eligible for Study: All

• Ages: 3 Years to 5 Years (Child)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Contacts: Contact information is only displayed when the study is recruiting subjects
• Listed Location Countries: United States

Administrative Information

• NCT Number: NCT00285792
• Other Study ID Numbers: 96534
• Has Data Monitoring Committee: Not Provided
• U.S. FDA-regulated Product: Not Provided
• IPD Sharing Statement: Not Provided
• Responsible Party: Not Provided
• Study Sponsor: Stanford University
• Collaborators: Not Provided

Investigators

• Principal Investigator: Sofiya Alhassan, Ph.D.; Stanford University

• PRS Account: Stanford University
• Verification Date: July 2006