Improving nutrition standards in child care programs to combat childhood obesity
Identifying an implementation strategy to maximize the public health nutrition impact of the Child and Adult Care Food Program
This study is looking at how to make meals healthier for kids in child care programs to help prevent obesity, and it wants to find out what challenges child care providers face so they can create helpful solutions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard School of Public Health NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10894708 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing the nutrition standards of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) to help prevent obesity in young children. It aims to identify the challenges that child care providers face in implementing these healthier standards and to develop strategies to overcome these barriers. By collecting data on administrative and cost-related issues, the research will create targeted interventions to support child care centers in adopting improved nutrition practices. This initiative is crucial as early childhood is a key period for establishing healthy eating habits.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research include children aged 2-5 years who are enrolled in child care programs participating in the CACFP.
Not a fit: Patients who are not enrolled in child care programs or are outside the age range of 2-5 years may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to healthier eating habits in young children, reducing the risk of obesity and related chronic diseases.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that improving nutrition standards in child care settings can lead to better dietary habits among children, indicating a promising approach.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Harvard School of Public Health — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kenney, Erica Lauren — Harvard School of Public Health
- Study coordinator: Kenney, Erica Lauren
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.