| The goal of this integrated project
is to design and implement a nutrition education
intervention for low-income parents of children
ages one to three that promotes healthy eating behaviors
in young children. Critical factors address obesity
prevention, specifically food consumption and the
mealtime environment. Objectives are to: (1) promote
the development of healthy eating behaviors in young
children while dietary habits are forming; (2) demonstrate
that nutrition education provided through a multi-state
intervention is effective in promoting healthy eating
behaviors in young children; and (3) demonstrate
that 'Healthy Toddlers' is a sustainable intervention
within existing programs. Delivered by Extension
paraprofessionals, eight in-home lessons (plus four
telephone follow-up reinforcement contacts) are
based on the Social Cognitive Theory which addresses
the influence of social, psychological and cognitive
factors on health behaviors (priorities 1 and 3
of NRI 31.5). A randomized experimental, short-term
longitudinal design is proposed with intervention
and control groups (300 participants per group),
with three assessment periods: baseline, post assessment,
and delayed post [six months after post]). Toddler
eating skills and diet, and maternal toddler-feeding
style, are assessed through parent self-report and
in-home mealtime observations. Child and maternal
BMI will be directly measured. Subjects in the intervention
group are expected to demonstrate more positive
dietary and eating skills and feeding interactions
than the controls. The project's long-term goal
is consistent with the USDA goal of improving the
nation's nutrition and health by addressing childhood
obesity through an effective intervention promoting
the development of healthy eating habits at an early
age.
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