Mindful eating and movement program for preschoolers and caregivers
Food-Body-Mind Intervention: Promote whole child health
A 16-week school-and-home program teaching mindful eating, movement, and parenting skills for Head Start preschoolers and their caregivers to improve mental, emotional, behavioral, and physical health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Michigan State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (East Lansing, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11195725 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You and your preschool child would join a 16-week program that combines classroom mindfulness and movement (like yoga and deep breathing) with home-based practices led by caregivers. The program is offered in Head Start preschools and includes training for caregivers to use mindful eating, movement, and positive parenting strategies at home. The trial randomly assigns participating Head Start centers in urban and rural areas to either the program or usual care to compare results. Researchers will follow children and caregivers over time to track changes in behavioral and emotional health, caregiver-child relationships, and physical measures such as BMI.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are preschool-aged children enrolled in participating Head Start centers (about ages 3–5) and their caregivers, especially those from low-income or economically marginalized communities.
Not a fit: Families with older children, those not enrolled in Head Start, or caregivers unable to practice the home activities may not benefit from or be eligible for this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could reduce behavioral and emotional problems in preschoolers, strengthen caregiver-child relationships, and improve physical health.
How similar studies have performed: Previous school-based mindfulness and movement programs have shown promise for improving child behavior and stress, but combining classroom and caregiver-led mindful eating and parenting for preschoolers is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
East Lansing, United States
- Michigan State University — East Lansing, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ling, Jiying — Michigan State University
- Study coordinator: Ling, Jiying
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.