Effect of multidimensional lifestyle intervention on fitness and adiposity in predominantly migrant preschool children (Ballabeina): cluster randomised controlled trial

Study answer

What this study found

Compared with controls, the multidimensional Ballabeina lifestyle intervention increased aerobic fitness by 0.32 shuttle-run stages (adjusted; 95% CI 0.07 to 0.57; P=0.01), reduced body fat percentage by 1.1 percentage points (95% CI −2.02 to −0.20; P=0.02), and reduced waist circumference by 1.0 cm (95% CI −1.6 to −0.4; P=0.001). BMI showed no significant change (−0.07 kg/m^2; 95% CI −0.19 to 0.06; P=0.31). Motor agility improved (obstacle course time −0.54 seconds; P<0.01). There were favorable signals for physical-activity-related behaviors (increases in reported activity, healthier…

Study & population

Cluster-randomised controlled trial conducted in 40 public preschool classes in the German- and French-speaking regions of Switzerland.

Key limitation

Short duration with no long-term follow-up; BMI did not change and some secondary outcomes had limited power to detect effects; high variability in measurements among preschool children could reduce power; generalizability limited to migrant preschool children in Switzerland; some reliance on self-reported behavioral…

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Original abstract