Dr. Gary Goldfield and coauthors Alysha Harvey, Kimberley Grattan and Dr. Kristi Adamo recently published a paper, “Physical Activity Promotion in the Preschool Years: A Critical Period to Intervene,” in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. The paper is a review/position paper that can be briefly summarized as follows: since physical activity levels track from early childhood through adolescence into adulthood, intervening with a physical activity intervention in the preschool years may be critical to establishing a physically active lifestyle and associated health benefits over the lifespan.

Full citations details are below:

Gary S. Goldfield, Alysha Harvey, Kimberly Grattan, Kristi B. Adamo. Physical Activity Promotion in the Preschool Years: A Critical Period to Intervene. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2012, 9(4), 1326-1342.

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.

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