Head Start Participation and Childhood Obesity

Childhood obesity is a significant public health problem that also has economic consequences. Medical research suggests that nutritional interventions at a young age can influence nutritional behavior and reduce childhood obesity. This paper estimates the impact of one such intervention—Head Start—on childhood overweight and obesity. While Head Start is more commonly known as an educational intervention, a large part of the program includes nutrition services and nutritional education to parents and children. For black children, Head Start participation is shown to reduce the likelihood of being obese in later childhood. David Frisvold University of Michigan School of Public Health Health Management and Policy 109 Observatory SPH-II M2102 Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029 [email protected] Early Childhood Research Collaborative─Discussion Paper 108 2