Obesity and motor deficits are growing problems among preschool aged children already.1e4,33 The optimal start and procedure
for preventing overweight and its subsequent diseases in this age
group remains unclear.18 Given this, there is an urgent need for
research regarding the capacity to influence the development of
obesity-promoting behaviours. Kindergarten is a very suitable setting
to take early countermeasures. It seems obvious that the participation
of parents and educators in health promotion programs for preschool children is absolutely necessary as they play a key role for the
development of a healthy lifestyle.21 West et al.34 showed, that
parental recognition of overweight in school aged children improved
with BMI screening and feedback. Already at very early age nutritional
and physical activity habits become evident in children. It is obvious
that they recognize their parents (and educators) as role models.22 In
addition, the environment of kindergartens should provide health
and movement promoting facilities to support an active lifestyle.22,30
In the present study, a low threshold intervention led to
a decrease of the BMI in boys, while girls’ BMI remained stable. The
BMI increased significantly in boys and girls of the control group. It
may be speculated that this reflects an early “adiposity rebound
(AR)” in the children of the control group which is associated with
numerous subsequent diseases.35,36 Significant differences between
IG and CG occurred in overweight and normal weight boys. For girls,
differences could be observed only in normal weight children. In
obese children no differences were found regarding the course of the
BMI. Explanations for gender-specific differences remain speculative. Boys could have benefited to a larger extent from physical
activities offered by the educators. Stricter parental supervision offsite may have resulted in kindergarten girls being more protected.
Probably boys were free to move around and play more intensively
without being strictly controlled by their parents. Finn et al.37
demonstrated that boys are more active in movement activities
than girls. The development of special physical activity concepts for
girls at pre-school age could be a promising approach. It may also be
considered that keeping the BMI of the girls at the same level was
a successful outcome, as BMI in the control group rose significantly.