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From ToyBox Study to eToyBox: Advancing Childhood Obesity Reduction in Malaysian Kindergartens

Summerbell, Carolyn; Reeves, Sue; Gibson, Edward

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Authors

Sue Reeves

Edward Gibson



Abstract

Prevention and treatment of childhood obesity is a global concern and in Malaysia it is considered a national public health priority. Determinants of childhood obesity are multifactorial and include factors that directly and indirectly influence energy balance related behaviours including energy intake and energy expenditure. Interventions to address childhood obesity that have multiple components at different levels have been shown to be the most influential. The Toybox Study is a childhood obesity intervention aimed at pre-school aged children and their families that had been shown to be effective in several European countries and so was chosen for adaption for the Malaysian setting. Materials were translated and adjusted for the Malaysian context and audience and implemented in kindergartens in Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown, teaching transitioned to being online. This brought an opportunity to reach a wider audience and consider the long-term sustainability of the intervention, and thus eToybox was born. eToybox aims to bring support for healthy energy balance behaviours directly to the teachers, into kindergartens and homes, to encourage families to be active and eat healthily, and prevent or reduce obesity. Through online innovation the Toybox Study Malaysia programme has been expanded to enhance its potential to impact the promotion of healthy lifestyles among preschoolers and their families, highlighting the importance of a holistic approach to preventing and treating childhood obesity in Malaysia.

Citation

Summerbell, C., Reeves, S., & Gibson, E. (2023). From ToyBox Study to eToyBox: Advancing Childhood Obesity Reduction in Malaysian Kindergartens. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(16), Article 6614. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20166614

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Aug 16, 2023
Online Publication Date Aug 18, 2023
Publication Date Aug 18, 2023
Deposit Date Aug 21, 2023
Publicly Available Date Aug 21, 2023
Journal International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Print ISSN 1661-7827
Electronic ISSN 1660-4601
Publisher MDPI
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 20
Issue 16
Article Number 6614
DOI https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20166614
Keywords childhood; obesity; intervention; nutrition; energy balance; pre-school, online
Public URL https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1721157

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