The Impact of Probiotic Yogurt Supplementation on Weight Gain Among Preschool Children: Evidence from an Early Childhood Education Setting in Indonesia

Abstract

Nutritional adequacy in early childhood is critical for supporting optimal physical, cognitive, and emotional development. In Indonesia, high rates of undernutrition among preschool-aged children remain a persistent challenge, with significant implications for health and education outcomes. This study aimed to analyze the effect of probiotic yogurt supplementation on weight gain among children aged 4–5 years at TK Muslimat NU Jabung. Employing a pre-experimental one-group pretest-posttest design, a purposive sample of 23 children was selected based on strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. Children’s body weight was measured before and after a three-week intervention, during which probiotic yogurt was administered according to standard protocols. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, the Shapiro-Wilk normality test, and the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test. The results showed a statistically significant increase in mean body weight post-intervention (from 10.3 kg to 10.46 kg; p < 0.001), demonstrating the positive impact of probiotic yogurt on child growth. These findings confirm that probiotic-rich foods can serve as accessible and effective interventions to address undernutrition in preschool educational settings. The research highlights the value of integrating nutritional interventions within early childhood education, offering evidence-based strategies for educators, midwives, and policymakers. Further research is recommended to explore long-term effects, larger sample sizes, and broader educational contexts to optimize child nutrition and health outcomes in Indonesia.