Toddler obesity prevention: A two-generation randomized attention-controlled trial.

Rapid weight gain increases risks of obesity and associated co-morbidities. The objective was to reduce the rate of body mass index (BMI) growth (BMI z score), relative to control. Secondary outcomes were toddler-mother physical activity, mealtime interactions and fruit/vegetable intake.

Toddler physical activity study: laboratory and community studies to evaluate accelerometer validity and correlates.

Background: Toddlerhood is an important age for physical activity (PA) promotion to prevent obesity and support a physically active lifestyle throughout childhood. Accurate assessment of PA is needed to determine trends/correlates of PA, time spent in sedentary, light, or moderate-vigorous PA (MVPA), and the effectiveness of PA promotion programs. Due to the limited availability of objective measures that have been validated and evaluated for feasibility in community studies, it is unclear which subgroups of toddlers are at the highest risk for inactivity.

The perceived and built environment surrounding urban schools and physical activity among adolescent girls.

Background: Neighborhood perceived/built environment and physical activity (PA) associations have been examined for adolescents around homes, but not surrounding schools.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine if positive perceptions/built environment in neighborhoods surrounding schools predict PA among low-income, urban adolescent girls.

Methods: Measures include: minutes in moderate-vigorous PA (MVPA, ankle accelerometry), perceptions of the school environment (questionnaire), built environment (neighborhood audit).

Maternal perceptions of toddler body size: accuracy and satisfaction differ by toddler weight status.

Objectives: To examine (1) accuracy of maternal perceptions of toddler body size; (2) factors associated with accuracy of toddler body size; and (3) how maternal satisfaction relates to accuracy/toddler body size.

Design: Cross-sectional.

Setting: Low-income community sample from suburban Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)/urban pediatric clinics.