Food-Body-Mind Intervention: Promote Whole Child Health
Michigan State University
Summary
This novel, timely, and theory-driven Food-Body-Mind intervention addresses the national emergency of mental health crises in early childhood. By targeting Head Start racially/ethnically diverse preschoolers from low-income backgrounds in both urban and rural areas, this intervention is expected to contribute toward reducing health disparities and promoting health equity, a major priority of the NIH and Healthy People 2030. If effective, it can be scalable to Head Start programs across urban and rural settings nationally with long-term sustainability benefits.
Description
Mental, emotional, and behavioral (MEB) disorders begin in early childhood, with one in six US preschoolers aged 3-5 years diagnosed with a MEB disorder. Children from low income and economically marginalized (LIEM) backgrounds have a higher risk of being diagnosed with MEB disorders than those from higher income families. To address the mental and physical health disparities based on socioeconomic status, ethnicity/race, and urban/rural residency, the proposed study will target Head Start racially/ethnically diverse preschoolers from LIEM backgrounds in both urban and rural areas. Guided by t…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 3–5 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Parental consent and child (if the child is 5 years) verbal assent received 2. Children are 3-5 years old attending a Head Start program and caregivers are the primary adult caregivers for the children 3. Caregivers are willing to use Facebook or the private program website for participation 4. Participants have at least weekly internet access using a smartphone, a tablet, or a computer Exclusion Criteria: 1. preschoolers who have a motor disability or impairment (e.g., cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury, lost or damaged limb, motor skills disorder, muscular dystrophy…
Interventions
- BehavioralFood-Body-Mind
The Food-Body-Mind intervention includes 3 main components: 1) a school-based mindfulness component delivered by daycare teachers to equip preschoolers with knowledge and skills in mindful eating and movement (e.g., yoga, deep breathing exercises) to reduce emotional eating and increase F/V intake and physical activity; 2) a home-based mindfulness component to increase caregivers' skills in practicing mindful eating, movement, and parenting behaviors at home to foster a more positive, mindful, and healthy home environment; and 3) a preschooler school learning and caregiver home practice connection component to improve caregiver-preschooler relationships.
Location
- Community Action AgencyJackson, Michigan