Sustainability of and Adherence to Preschool Health Promotion Among Children 9 to 13 Years Old.

Background: Long-term evaluations of child health promotion programs are required to assess their sustainability and the need for reintervention.

Objectives: This study sought to explore the long-term impact of a preschool health promotion intervention delivered in an urban low-income area of Colombia (phase 1) and to assess the effect of a new community-based intervention (phase 2).

Methods: In phase 1, a cross-sectional analysis of knowledge, attitudes, and habits (KAH) toward a healthy lifestyle and ideal cardiovascular health (ICH) scores of 1,216 children 9 to 13 years old was performed.

Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in schoolchildren from a rural and urban area in Colombia.

Introduction: Cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) have their origin in childhood. Several studies have shown differences in the prevalence of CVRFs between rural and urban areas, probably related to lifestyle behaviors. Objective: To describe the CVRFs identified in children from a rural and urban population in Colombia.

Colombian reference growth curves for height, weight, body mass index and head circumference.

Aim: Published Growth studies from Latin America are limited to growth references from Argentina and Venezuela. The aim of this study was to construct reference growth curves for height, weight, body mass index (BMI) and head circumference of Colombian children in a format that is useful for following the growth of the individual child and as a tool for public health.

Methods: Prospective measurements from 27 209 Colombian children from middle and upper socio-economic level families were processed using the generalised additive models for location, scale and shape (GAMLSS).

[High prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors in a pediatric population].

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease risk factors begin in childhood. Their presence may predict cardiovascular disease in adulthood.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors in a group of nurses´ children at a health facility in Bogotá, Colombia.

Promotion of cardiovascular health in preschool children: 36-month cohort follow-up.

Background: Educational interventions in preschool children could improve dietary behavior and physical activity, and prevent unhealthy body weights in low- and middle-income countries. Previously, we have reported the beneficial impact of an educational intervention in preschoolers in a 6-month trial. We now report extended results after 36 months.

Targeting preschool children to promote cardiovascular health: cluster randomized trial.

Background: School programs can be effective in modifying knowledge, attitudes, and habits relevant to long-term risk of chronic diseases associated with sedentary lifestyles. As part of a long-term research strategy, we conducted an educational intervention in preschool facilities to assess changes in preschoolers' knowledge, attitudes, and habits toward healthy eating and living an active lifestyle.

Methods: Using a cluster design, we randomly assigned 14 preschool facilities in Bogotá, Colombia to a 5-month educational and playful intervention (7 preschool facilities ) or to usual curriculum (7 preschool facilities ).

[Risk factors for cardiovascular and chronic diseases in a coffee-growing population].

Objectives: Estimating the prevalence of cardiovascular and chronic disease risk factors in a Colombian coffee-growing population.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out from February to November 2007. Multistage conglomerate sampling of 55 rural areas in 13 municipalities led to 516 people being surveyed.