Spence, J.C., Predy, G., Casey, L. & Boulé, N. Growth Assessment Study of Preschool Children: Establishing a Longitudinal Cohort. Pilot Grant - Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Heart and Stoke Foundation of Canada ($48, 795).

Childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions in Canada and the problem is growing; between 1981 and 1996, the prevalence of obesity in Canadian children aged 7-13 tripled. Currently , more than 25% of Canadian children are overweight or obese. This trend is disturbing because of the link between obesity and premature chronic disease development and increased risk of becoming obese as adults. Retrospective studies have found approximately 30 % of preschoolers who are obese will be obese as adults. There is a need to thoroughly examine the extent of this public health epidemic and implement population-based intervention strategies to reduce and eventually reverse this disturbing trend. One opportunity for collecting height and weight data on most young children is when they receive preschool immunization shots (typically between the ages of 4 and 6).

The goals of this project will be to: (a) d etermine the height, weight, and BMI of preschool children in the Capital Health region (Edmonton, Alberta); (b) examine the relationships between height, weight, BMI and other socio-demographic and health related variables such as birth information, infant feeding, geographic area where the family resides, and the parent proxy report of the child's physical activity and food practices; and (c) establish a cohort of children who are willing to be contacted in the future for follow-up and further involvement in research projects.

The population of interest will be children between four and six years of age who are attending a Capital Health Centre for preschool immunization. Height and weight are routinely measured when children attend these health centres for preschool immunization. Data will be collected from June 2005 to March 2006. More than 800 children are immunized per month in the health clinics. We anticipate recruiting approximately 1600 children into the study.

Before the research study begins, staff will be given an in-service program where the growing concern and issues regarding childhood obesity will be discussed. The importance of prevention will be emphasized and staff will be given an opportunity for questions and discussion. Resource information will be provided. Training will also be given to ensure standard methods of measurement. Equipment for measuring weight and height will meet appropriate standards.

The coordinator will contact parents by phone several days before the parent brings their child for preschool immunization. At that time, the coordinator will explain the study and answer any questions that arise. Parents who agree to participate in the study will be sent an information letter, consent form, and brief questionnaire. Parents will be asked to bring the consent and questionnaire to the Health Centre for the immunization appointment. If they arrive without the materials, the receptionist will give them a package with the letter, consent and questionnaire. The parents will be asked to provide their written consent to: (1) link the current visit data, including height and weight with the Community Health Services health record; (2) complete a short questionnaire; and (3) be contacted in the future to provide additional data regarding their child.

Parents who provide consent to participate in the study will be asked to complete a questionnaire on the physical activity and food practices of their child. This questionnaire will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. The child's height and weight will be used to determine BMI percentile for age. Analysis will be done to determine if relationships exist between BMI percentile and socio-demographic and health related variables available in the Community Health Services database (e.g. birth information, infant feeding), neighbourhood variables, and responses to the questionnaire on physical activity and food practices.