{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,24]],"date-time":"2026-08-24T15:31:43Z","timestamp":1787585503953,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":54,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,24]],"date-time":"2026-08-24T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1787529600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Nutr."],"abstract":"\n Introduction<\/jats:title>\n Early childhood educators are important influencers of children\u2019s eating and activity behaviors, making them key targets for interventions aimed at improving nutrition and physical activity practices and fostering healthier childcare environments.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Objective<\/jats:title>\n To evaluate the impact of the eHealth professional development program in improving early childhood education and care (ECEC) nutrition and physical activity environments, educators\u2019 nutrition knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors, and educators\u2019 perceptions of program acceptability.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Method<\/jats:title>\n This study was conducted in licensed ECEC centers in one Canadian province. The study used a two-armed quasi-experimental pre-test\/post-test design with intervention and control groups and repeated measures to evaluate a 10-month eHealth program informed by Social Cognitive Theory and the Interconnected Model of Professional Growth Theory. The program aimed to enhance educators\u2019 capacity to implement evidence-based nutrition and physical activity practices. Delivered in annual cohorts from 2019 to 2021, it comprised two phases: (1) a 12-week series of online educational modules with accompanying virtual Communities of Practice meetings, and (2) a five-month follow-up period involving monthly implementation-coaching virtual Communities of Practice meetings. Validated questionnaires assessed center-level and educator-level outcomes at baseline, five (midpoint), and 10\u202fmonths (end-of-program). Semi-structured interviews explored perceptions of program acceptability.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Results<\/jats:title>\n \n Compared with controls, significant improvements in center-level nutrition and physical activity environments (mean change 0.362,\n p<\/jats:italic>\n \u202f=\u202f0.002, Cohen\u2019s d\u202f=\u202f0.72), and educator nutrition knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors (mean change 5.467,\n p<\/jats:italic>\n \u202f=\u202f0.023, Cohen\u2019s d\u202f=\u202f0.69) were observed at midpoint and maintained at the end-of-program. Qualitative findings indicated high acceptability, with educators describing the program as relevant, feasible, and supportive of integrating practices into daily routines.\n <\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n The eHealth professional development program was acceptable and associated with improvements in educators\u2019 knowledge and adherence to nutrition and physical activity practice guidelines, with sustained effect over time. Scalable, digitally delivered professional development may offer a promising strategy to support healthier ECEC environments.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fnut.2026.1873291","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,24]],"date-time":"2026-08-24T15:04:09Z","timestamp":1787583849000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Enhancing healthy eating and active environments in early learning settings: findings from the eHealth study"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"Lynne M. Z.","family":"Lafave","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"CHEERS Lab, Department Health and Physical Education, Mount Royal University","place":["Calgary, AB, Canada"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Joyce","family":"Hayek","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CHEERS Lab, Department Health and Physical Education, Mount Royal University","place":["Calgary, AB, Canada"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ceilidh","family":"McConnell","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CHEERS Lab, Department Health and Physical Education, Mount Royal University","place":["Calgary, AB, Canada"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Bjorn","family":"Winkens","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Department of Methodology and Statistics, Maastricht University","place":["Maastricht, 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