Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2012, 9(4), 1326-1342; doi:10.3390/ijerph9041326
Review

Physical Activity Promotion in the Preschool Years: A Critical Period to Intervene

Gary S. Goldfield 1,2,3,4,5 email, Alysha Harvey 1 email, Kimberly Grattan 1 email and Kristi B. Adamo 1,2,3,* email
1 Healthy Active Living & Obesity Research Group, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L1, Canada 2 Department of Pediatrics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada 3 School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada 4 School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada 5 Department of Psychology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 1 February 2012; in revised form: 13 March 2012 / Accepted: 22 March 2012 / Published: 16 April 2012
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Childhood Obesity: Prevention and Treatment)
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Abstract: The primary aim of this paper is to provide a rationale for the necessity of intervening with a physical activity intervention in the preschool years and why the daycare environment is amenable to such intervention. We also review the prevalence of physical activity, sedentary behaviour and obesity in the preschool population and the impact that these lifestyle behaviours and conditions have on the health of preschool aged children, as secondary objectives. Moreover we discuss implications for intervention and research using a “lessons learned” model based on our research team’s experience of conducting a randomized controlled trial aimed at increasing physical activity, reducing sedentary behaviour and improving motor skill development and body composition in preschoolers. Lastly, we make conclusions based on the literature and highlight issues and directions that need to be addressed in future research in order to maximize health promotion and chronic disease prevention in the pediatric population.
Keywords: preschoolers; physical activity; obesity; prevention; critical period

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MDPI and ACS Style

Goldfield, G.S.; Harvey, A.; Grattan, K.; Adamo, K.B. Physical Activity Promotion in the Preschool Years: A Critical Period to Intervene. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2012, 9, 1326-1342.

AMA Style

Goldfield GS, Harvey A, Grattan K, Adamo KB. Physical Activity Promotion in the Preschool Years: A Critical Period to Intervene. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2012; 9(4):1326-1342.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Goldfield, Gary S.; Harvey, Alysha; Grattan, Kimberly; Adamo, Kristi B. 2012. "Physical Activity Promotion in the Preschool Years: A Critical Period to Intervene." Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 9, no. 4: 1326-1342.

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