Presentation: Co-benefits of promoting healthy eating where children live, learn, and play: An exploration of existing early care and education literature
Presentation Description: Policy, systems, and environmental strategies have emerged as a critical ingredient to promoting healthy eating among children, especially low-income and racial or ethnic minority children who are at risk for poor nutrition and obesity. Beyond promoting healthy eating, these strategies have other benefits that have not been fully described and synthesized. Across four settings and sectors—early care and education, school, the community food environment, and healthcare, this review examines seven potential co-benefits: (1) academic (including child development related outcomes), (2) economics (at the individual level such as poverty alleviation, at the community level such as economic development and job creation, and cost-effectiveness), (3) environmental sustainability or planetary health, (4) food insecurity, (5) health (focusing on weight status or body mass index), (6) health equity, and (7) social emotional benefits. The review also provides insights about knowledge gaps and opportunities, along with implications for research, policy and practice. Today's presentation will focus on sharing preliminary findings from the exploration of existing early care and education literature.
Presenters: Sheila Fleischhacker, Sara Benjamin-Neelon, Rachel Bleiweiss-Sande