Protocol for a digital health-assisted cluster randomised controlled trial to prevent obesity in preschool children in Jinan, China

13 Jul 20264 min read0 viewsJournal Feed

GIST (Key Takeaways)

Introduction Early childhood obesity has become a major public health concern globally. The preschool period (ages 4 - 6 years) represents a critical window for obesity prevention due to its long-term implications on growth trajectories and behaviour formation.
However, existing evidence for effective interventions targeting this age group remains limited and inconsistent, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Methods and analysis The Peking University-Smart Monitoring and Responsive Technology for Early Childhood Health is a cluster-randomised controlled trial designed to evaluate the effectiveness and sustainability of a multi-component, digital health - assisted obesity prevention intervention.
The trial involves approximately 980 children aged 4 - 6 years (middle and senior kindergarten classes) from 14 kindergartens, randomly allocated to either the intervention (n=7) or control (n=7) groups. The intervention spans 9 months, followed by a 12-month post-intervention follow-up.
Interventions are delivered across kindergartens, families and healthcare systems. A digital Smart Health Platform is integrated into the intervention to provide health education, real-time feedback and interactive support, enabling personalised health management and promoting parental engagement.

Clinical Editorial

BMJ Open published a clinical update in Research Highlights on 13 Jul 2026.

The item focuses on Protocol for a digital health-assisted cluster randomised controlled trial to prevent obesity in preschool children in Jinan, China.

Review the original article for the full source wording and details.