The need for excess weight gain prevention in disadvantaged young children is widely recognised. Early Childhood Education and Care teachers are potential key actors in early interventions to prevent overweight and obesity. This study examines the effects of a preschool-based intervention for teachers in promoting healthy eating and physical activity in young children. A cluster randomised controlled trial was conducted at 41 preschools in a deprived area of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The intervention consisted of 2 programmes that were applied in succession: A Healthy Start and PLAYgrounds for TODdlers. The study period was 9 months. Primary outcomes were assessed via questionnaires and included teachers' knowledge, attitude, food/activity-related practices, and level of confidence in promoting healthy behaviours. Secondary outcomes in this study were teachers' and children's BMI (z-score), body composition, dietary intake and physical activity level. Intention-to-treat analyses were performed using linear mixed models. In total, 115 teachers and 249 children (mean age 3.0 (0.2) years) were included. A positive effect on teachers' knowledge about the Dutch dietary guidelines was found after the programme A Healthy Start (difference = 1.38; 1-sided 95% CL = 0.29; p = 0.02). This effect was not sustained at 9 months (difference = 0.34; 1-sided 95% CL = -0.76; p = 0.31). The overall intervention had a positive effect on 3 of the 5 attitude statements regarding a healthy lifestyle (difference ranged from 0.34 to 0.55) and on the practice scale Activity-related-Modelling (difference = 0.16; 1-sided 95% CL = 0.06; p = 0.01). No intervention effects were observed on food-related practice scales and the level of confidence in promoting healthy behaviours. At this stage, no effects were seen on teachers' and children's BMI (z-score). This study contributes to the professional development of Early Childhood Education and Care teachers and addresses the call for interventions to prevent overweight/obesity and to minimise health inequalities in young children.

中文翻译：

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幼儿教育和护理教师的学前干预对促进幼儿健康饮食和体育活动的影响：一项整群随机对照试验。

人们普遍认识到，需要防止弱势幼儿体重增加过多。幼儿教育和护理教师是预防超重和肥胖的早期干预措施的潜在关键参与者。本研究调查了以学前教育为基础的干预对教师促进幼儿健康饮食和体育活动的影响。在荷兰阿姆斯特丹贫困地区的 41 所幼儿园进行了一项整群随机对照试验。干预包括连续应用的 2 个计划：健康的开始和幼儿游乐场。研究时间为9个月。通过问卷评估主要成果，包括教师的知识、态度、与食物/活动相关的做法以及促进健康行为的信心水平。本研究的次要结果是教师和儿童的 BMI（z 分数）、身体成分、饮食摄入量和身体活动水平。意向治疗分析使用线性混合模型进行。总共包括 115 名教师和 249 名儿童（平均年龄 3.0 (0.2) 岁）。在 A Healthy Start 计划之后发现对教师对荷兰饮食指南的了解有积极影响（差异 = 1.38；单侧 95% CL = 0.29；p = 0.02）。这种效果在 9 个月时没有持续（差异 = 0.34；单侧 95% CL = -0.76；p = 0.31）。总体干预对 5 项关于健康生活方式的态度陈述中的 3 项（差异范围从 0.34 到 0.55）和实践量表活动相关建模（差异 = 0.16；单侧 95% CL = 0.06； p = 0.01）。在与食品相关的实践量表和促进健康行为的信心水平方面没有观察到干预效果。在这个阶段，没有看到对教师和儿童的 BMI（z 分数）的影响。本研究有助于幼儿教育和护理教师的专业发展，并呼吁采取干预措施以预防超重/肥胖并最大限度地减少幼儿的健康不平等。