The effect of teacher education on the prevalence of obesity in kindergarten children.

BACKGROUND: Childhood obesity is increasing worldwide and becoming an important health problem in both the children's current life and their later years. Providing kindergarten teachers with the knowledge should reduce the severity of obesity and prevent childhood obesity. OBJECTIVE: To monitor the prevalence of over-nutrition and obesity in kindergarten children for 3 years, and to evaluate the effects of teacher education on the prevalence of over-nutrition and obesity. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Kindergarten children from 7 schools in Bangkok were enrolled in this cohort study for 3 years (2005-2007). Three school groups were classified according to the number of informed teachers in the school. The children's weight and height were measured yearly using standard instruments. Nutritional status was assessed by% weight for height (%W/H), using the Thai Growth Reference, 1999. After the second measurement, all teachers were informed directly at the schools. The prevalence of over-nutrition and obesity was assessed and compared among the 3 years, and the 3 groups, using Chi-square (chi 2) test. RESULTS: In the year 2005, 1,232 kindergarten children from 7 schools were enrolled. The prevalence of over-nutrition and obesity was 33% and 17.4% in 2005; 32.8% and 17.2% in 2006; 28.8% and 15.3% in 2007. In the 3rd year the prevalence of over-nutrition decreased statistically significantly from the first 2 years. The prevalence of over-nutrition and obesity in 3 years decreased insignificantly in each group. This showed the positive effects of the teacher education. CONCLUSION: Teacher education has effects in reducing the prevalence of over-nutrition and obesity in the kindergarten children.