Impact of the Physical Activity Environment on Change in Body Mass Index Percentile in Child Care Centers Serving Children with Disabilities

Abstract

Childcare centers (CCCs) can provide opportunities to implement physical activity (PA) via health promotion interventions to prevent obesity and associated chronic disease risk factors in young children. This study evaluated the impact of the Healthy Caregivers-Healthy Children (HC2) intervention on body mass index percentile (PBMI) and the PA environment in CCCs serving children with disabilities (CWD) over one school year. Ten CCCs were cluster-randomized to either (1) an intervention arm that received the HC2 curriculum adapted for CWD or (2) an attention control arm. Mixed-effect linear regression models analyzed the relationship between change in child PBMI and CCC childcare center PA environment by experimental condition and child disability status over one school year. Findings showed a significant decrease in PBMI among children in the HC2 centers (−6.74, p = 0.007) versus those in control centers (−1.35, p = 0.74) over one school year. Increased PA staff behaviors (mean change 3.66, p < 0.001) and PA policies (mean change 6.12, p < 0.001) were shown in intervention centers during the same period. Conversely, there was a significant increase in sedentary opportunities (mean change 4.45, p < 0.001) and a decrease in the portable play environment (mean change −3.16, p = 0.03) and fixed play environment (mean change −2.59, p = 0.04) in control centers. No significant differences were found in PBMI changes between CWD and children without disabilities (beta = 1.62, 95% CI [−7.52, 10.76], p = 0.73), suggesting the intervention’s efficacy does not differ by disability status. These results underscore the importance of (1) including young CWD and (2) PA and the supporting environment in CCC health promotion and obesity prevention interventions.