Healthy Bodies Project: Modifying Family and Preschool Environments to Prevent Obesity
Overview
- Phase
- N/A
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Obesity, Childhood
- Sponsor
- Penn State University
- Enrollment
- 2480
- Primary Endpoint
- Child Body Mass Index (BMI)
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- 5 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
The goal of this study is to evaluate components of a preschool-based intervention designed to (1) increase children's nutrition knowledge, (2) increase physical activity in childcare settings, (3) increase emotional, behavioral and eating-related regulation, and (4) provide guidance to parents/caregivers about appropriate parenting and child-feeding strategies that promote healthy eating behaviors, dietary patterns and physical activity in preschool-aged children. The long-term goal is to help children develop healthy habits that reduce risk for obesity.
Detailed Description
Findings from intervention studies designed to prevent obesity among preschool children are mixed. One approach to stemming the development of obesity in childhood is to alter children's choices and environments in ways that promote food literacy, acceptance of healthy foods, physical activity and self-regulation. Research on factors that influence the development of obesity in children has identified factors in children's environments that are potential targets for prevention programs. The goal of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of components designed for a preschool-based approach to preventing obesity in children. Using an innovative approach to optimizing behavioral interventions, the multiphase optimization strategy (MOST), we will examine the effects of a 28-week, randomized set of experiments designed to (1) increase children's nutrition knowledge, (2) increase physical activity in childcare settings, (3) increase emotional, behavioral and eating-related regulation, and (4) provide guidance to parents/caregivers about appropriate parenting and child-feeding strategies that promote healthy eating behaviors, dietary patterns and physical activity in preschool-aged children. Participants will include over 1300 predominantly low-income preschool children ages 3 to 5 years attending center-based childcare settings in Pennsylvania (\~100 classrooms). The proposed study will provide information on the most efficacious components that produce measurable changes in children's nutrition knowledge and obesity-related behaviors. The results of this study will be used to inform the design of a randomized controlled trial to prevent obesity in children.
Investigators
Lori Francis
Associate Professor of Biobehavioral Health
Penn State University
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •Children ages 3 to 5 years enrolled in full-day, center-based childcare programs
- •Caregiver ≥ 18 years of age
- •Caregiver responsible for providing meals for child at least half of the time
- •Fluent in English (caregiver and child)
Exclusion Criteria
- •Developmental delays or disorders that affect learning, mobility and eating
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Child Body Mass Index (BMI)
Time Frame: Change from baseline to post-assessment (5-6months) and follow-up (~9 months)
Absolute BMI, BMI z-score (BMIz), BMI percentile (BMIp) calculated from measured height and weight
Children's Behavioral Regulation - Observed
Time Frame: Change from baseline to post-assessment (5-6months) and follow-up (~9 months)
Behavioral tasks that measure child inhibitory control: Walk a Line Slowly, Peg/Pencil Tapping Procedure and Choosing Dinky Toys. Assessor reports of children's emotions, attention, and behavior: Preschool Self-Regulation Assessor Report
Nutrition Knowledge
Time Frame: Change from baseline to post-assessment (5-6months) and follow-up (~9 months)
Ability to identify energy- vs. nutrient-dense foods using the Food Knowledge Procedure
Food Choices
Time Frame: Change from baseline to post-assessment (5-6months) and follow-up (~9 months)
Children's choices between energy- vs. nutrient-dense foods for a hypothetical lunch using the Snack Selection Procedure
Physical and Sedentary Activity
Time Frame: Change from Baseline to Mid-Intervention (~3 months), Post-Intervention (5-6 months) and follow-up (~9 months)
Children's engagement in sedentary and moderate-vigorous physical activity during the school day objectively measured via accelerometry.
Children's Behavioral Regulation - Parent- and Teacher-Report
Time Frame: Change from baseline to post-assessment (5-6months)
Teacher reports of children's attentional focusing, impulsivity and inhibitory control: Child Behavior Questionnaire Parent reports of children's impulsivity and inhibitory control: Child Behavior Questionnaire
Children's Emotion Regulation - Parent- and Teacher-Report
Time Frame: Change from baseline to post-assessment (5-6months)
Parent and Teacher reports of children's anger/frustration: Child Behavior Questionnaire
Children's Eating in the Absence of Hunger
Time Frame: Change from baseline to post-assessment (5-6months)
Parent reported measure of children's eating in the absence of hunger due to negative emotions, fatigue/boredom, or external food cues.
Secondary Outcomes
- Children's Food Requests(Baseline, Post-Intervention (5-6 months))
- Children's Appetitive Behaviors(Baseline, Post-Intervention (5-6 months))
- Parental reports of children's requests for fruits, vegetables, whole grains and dairy(Baseline, Post-Intervention (5-6 months))