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Parents as the Agent of Change for Childhood Obesity

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Obesity
Interventions
Behavioral: Parent-only Group
Behavioral: Parent + Child Group
Registration Number
NCT01197443
Lead Sponsor
University of California, San Diego
Brief Summary

The overall intent of this study is to explore a promising mode for delivering treatment for childhood obesity via parent education only, and to evaluate the cost effectiveness compared to the current gold standard treatment of parent-and-child dual education.

Detailed Description

This study is a randomized clinical trial in which 150 overweight 8-12 year old children and their parent will be randomly assigned by the gender of the child to one of two conditions; a parent-only intervention or a parent + child intervention. Both treatment arms will provide behavioral treatment for childhood obesity for 5 months, and participants will be followed for 18-months post-treatment. Assessments will occur at baseline, immediately post-treatment, 6-12- and 18-months post-treatment. The overall intent of this study is to explore a promising mode for delivering treatment for childhood obesity (parent-only), and to evaluate the cost effectiveness compared to the current gold standard treatment of parent + child. Results of these studies will be utilized as evidence to recommend changes in the standard treatment for childhood obesity. This program of research is critical for exploring and developing interventions that mobilize parents to intervene with their overweight and obese children. The timing of this research is optimal given the increase in childhood obesity in the United States, and the need for disseminative intervention and prevention programs.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
152
Inclusion Criteria
  • Overweight child 8-12 years of age and above the 95th% for age and gender
  • An overweight (BMI > 25) parent willing to participate and attend all treatment meetings
  • Eligible parent who can read at a minimum of an 8th grade level
  • Family willing to commit to 5 months of treatment attendance, and follow-up for 18 months post-treatment.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Major child psychiatric disorder diagnoses
  • Child diagnoses of a serious current physical disease (such as diabetes) for which physician supervision of diet and exercise prescription are needed (self-report)
  • Family with restrictions on types of food, such as food allergies, religious, or ethnic practices that limit the foods available in the home
  • Child with physical difficulties that limit the ability to exercise
  • Child with an active eating disorder (based on EDE interview)
  • Families where children or parents are involved in swimming or weight training more than 5 hours per week
  • Major parent psychiatric disorder

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Parent-only GroupParent-only GroupTreatment will be administered to parents of the overweight child. Parent-only group treatment will include all of the same skills and techniques to promote weight loss, but the information will be delivered only to the parent. Participation of the children assigned to the parent-only treatment arm will be limited to the baseline and follow-up assessments.
Parent + child GroupParent + Child GroupThe treatment for participants in the parent + child arm will be administered in two separate groups, one for the parents and one for the child.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
To evaluate the efficacy of parent-only treatment versus parent + child treatment on the body weight of the target childAt post-treatment 18-month follow-up visit

The primary hypothesis is that the parent-only treatment will produce a decrease in the target child's weight (BMI for age percentile/BMI_Z) that is not inferior to the parent + child treatment at post-treatment 18-month follow-up visit.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
To compare effect of parent-only treatment versus parent + child treatment on target child's and parent's dietary qualityAt post-treatment 18-month follow-up visit

We hypothesize that the parent-only treatment will produce an effect on the target child's and parent's dietary quality that will support weight loss, of which is not inferior to the parent + child treatment. The effect will be measured by assessing questionnaire measures specific for child and parent.

To compare effect of parent-only treatment versus parent + child treatment on parenting styleAt post-treatment 18-month follow-up visit

We hypothesize that the parent-only treatment will produce an effect on the parenting style that will support weight loss, of which is not inferior to the parent + child treatment. The effect will be measured by assessing questionnaires specific for child and parent.

To compare effect of parent-only treatment versus parent + child treatment on parent's weight lossAt post-treatment 18-month follow-up visit

We hypothesize that the parent-only treatment will produce parent weight loss (as measured by BMI) that is not inferior to the parent + child treatment.

To evaluate the predictors of success in childhood obesity treatments by evaluating change in target child's and parent's weightAt post-treatment 18-month follow-up visit

A decrease in BMI percentile for age for target child and a decrease in BMI for parent will be evaluated.

To compare effect of parent-only treatment versus parent + child treatment on target child's and parent's quality of lifeAt post-treatment 18-month follow-up visit

We hypothesize that the parent-only treatment will produce an effect on the target child's and parent's quality of life consisting of physical comfort, body esteem, social life, and family relations that will support weight loss, of which is not inferior to the parent + child treatment. The effect will be measured by assessing questionnaires specific for child and parent.

To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of parent-only treatment versus parent + child treatmentAt post-treatment 6-month follow-up visit

We predict that the parent-only treatment will be more cost-effective than the parent + child group, as measured by calculating cost effectiveness ratios from both third party payer and limited societal perspectives at post-treatment 6-month follow-up visit.

To compare effect of parent-only treatment versus parent + child treatment on target child's and parent's exercise behaviorAt post-treatment 18-month follow-up visit

We hypothesize that the parent-only treatment will produce an effect on the target child's and parent's exercise behavior that will support weight loss, of which is not inferior to the parent + child treatment. The effect will be measured by assessing questionnaires specific for child and parent.

To compare effect of parent-only treatment versus parent + child treatment on target child's and parent's psychosocial measuresA post-treatment 18-month follow-up visit

We hypothesize that the parent-only treatment will produce an effect on the target child's and parent's psychosocial measures, of which is not inferior to the parent + child treatment. The effect will be measured by assessing questionnaires specific for child and parent.

To evaluate the predictors of success in childhood obesity treatment by evaluating changes in target child's and parent's psychosocial functioningAt post-treatment 18-month follow-up visit

Changes in the target child's and parent's psychosocial functioning will be evaluated by assessing questionnaire measures specific to child and parent psychosocial functioning.

To compare effect of parent-only treatment versus parent + child treatment on parent's adherenceAt post-treatment 18-month follow-up visit

We hypothesize that the parent-only treatment will produce an effect on the parent's adherence that will support weight loss, of which is not inferior to the parent + child treatment. The effect will be measured by group attendance and adherence to behavior recommendations.

To evaluate the predictors of success in childhood obesity treatments by evaluating complianceAt post-treatment 18-month follow-up visit

Compliance will be measured by group attendance and adherence to behavior recommendations.

To evaluate the predictors of success in childhood obesity treatments by evaluating changes in household food environmentAt post-treatment 18-month follow-up visit

Changes in household food environment will be evaluated by assessing questionnaires specific for household food environment (Food Shelf Inventory).

To evaluate the predictors of success in childhood obesity treatment by evaluating change in parenting styleAt post-treatment 18-month follow-up visit

Changes in parenting style will be evaluated by assessing questionnaires that are specific to parenting style for child and parent.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

UCSD Center for Healthy Eating and Activity Research (CHEAR)

🇺🇸

La Jolla, California, United States

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