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

Sue Reeves, Bee Koon Poh (), Yi Ting Chong, Julia Ai Cheng Lee, Whye Lian Cheah, Yatiman Noor Hafizah, Georgia Nelson, Abd Talib Ruzita, Denise Koh, Carolyn Summerbell, Cecilia A. Essau and Edward Leigh Gibson
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Sue Reeves: School of Life and Health Sciences, University of Roehampton, London SW15 4JD, UK
Bee Koon Poh: Centre for Community Health Studies (ReaCH), Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Kuala Lumpur 50300, Malaysia
Yi Ting Chong: Centre for Community Health Studies (ReaCH), Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Kuala Lumpur 50300, Malaysia
Julia Ai Cheng Lee: Faculty of Cognitive Sciences and Human Development, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), Kota Samarahan 94300, Sarawak, Malaysia
Whye Lian Cheah: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), Kota Samarahan 94300, Sarawak, Malaysia
Yatiman Noor Hafizah: Centre for Community Health Studies (ReaCH), Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Kuala Lumpur 50300, Malaysia
Georgia Nelson: Faculty of Cognitive Sciences and Human Development, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), Kota Samarahan 94300, Sarawak, Malaysia
Abd Talib Ruzita: Centre for Community Health Studies (ReaCH), Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Kuala Lumpur 50300, Malaysia
Denise Koh: Centre for Education and Community Wellbeing, Faculty of Education, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Bangi 43600, Selangor Dahrul Ehsan, Malaysia
Carolyn Summerbell: Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, UK
Cecilia A. Essau: School of Psychology, University of Roehampton, London SW15 4JD, UK
Edward Leigh Gibson: School of Psychology, University of Roehampton, London SW15 4JD, UK

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 16, 1-13

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 preschool-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.

Keywords: childhood; obesity; intervention; nutrition; energy balance; preschool; online (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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