Nurturing children's development through healthy eating and active living: Time for policies to support effective interventions in the context of responsive emotional support and early learning

• DOI: 10.1111/hsc.14106
• Publication Date: 2022-11-19T13:54:40Z
• Authors: Helen Skouteris; Rachael Green; Alexandra Chung; Heidi Bergmeier; Lisa H. Amir; Sukhpreet Kaur Ba...; Angel Marie Chater; Catherine Chamber...; Ruth Emond; Kay Gibbons; Michelle Gooey; Kostas Hatzikiria...; Emma Haycraft; Andrew P. Hills; Daryl J. Higgins; Oliver Hooper; Sue‐Anne Hunter; Pam Kappelides; Sue Kleve; Jacynta Krakouer; Julie C. Lumeng; Yannis Manios; Athar Mansoor; Michael Marmot; Louise C. Mâsse; Karen Matvienko‐S...; Zandile June‐Rose...; Caroline Meyer; George Moschonis; Emily R. Munro; Teresia Margareta...; Adrienne O'Neil; Thomas Quarmby; Rachel Sandford; Janet U. Schneide...; Simone Sherriff; Doug Simkiss; Alison Spence; Elizabeth Sturgiss; Dave Vicary; Rebecca Wickes; Luke Wolfenden; Mary Story; Maureen M. Black
• Keywords: Nature versus nurture; Equity

Fostering the growth, development, health, and wellbeing of children is a global priority. The early childhood period presents critical window to influence lifelong trajectories, however urgent multisectoral action needed ensure that families are adequately supported nurture their children's growth development. With shared vision give every child best start in life, thus helping them reach full developmental potential, we have formed International Healthy Eating Active Living Matters (HEALing Matters) Alliance. Together, form network academics practitioners working across health who dedicated improving equity for families. Our goal all free from structural inequality oppression empowered development through healthy eating physical activity within context responsive emotional support, safety security, opportunities learning. To date, there been disparate approaches promoting these objectives community service, education sectors. crucial importance our collective work bring priorities together interventions, so doing tackle head on siloed approaches. In this Policy paper, draw upon extensive research call promote foster positive trajectories children. We delivery evidence-based programs, policies, services co-designed meet needs address systemic inequalities. Moving beyond "what" life children, provide recommendations "how" can do this. Such impact will facilitate intergenerational progression builds human capital future generations.