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Fuel for Fun: Cooking With Kids Plus Parents and Play

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Pediatric Obesity
Interventions
Behavioral: School
Behavioral: About Eating
Behavioral: Family
Registration Number
NCT02491294
Lead Sponsor
Colorado State University
Brief Summary

Fuel for Fun: Cooking with Kids Plus Parents and Play (FFF), is an integrated research, extension, and education project targeting 4th grade students. Its long-term goal of reducing the risk of childhood obesity will be addressed by promoting healthful food and activity environments, policies and behaviors through: 1) building and testing the efficacy of a 4th grade comprehensive school- and family-based intervention, 2) applying it to an after-school setting to broaden its reach, and, 3) disseminating both versions through outreach.

Detailed Description

Fuel for Fun: Cooking with Kids Plus Parents and Play (FFF) is based on existing, evidence-based components: the experiential Cooking with Kids curriculum, the SPARK Active Recreation program; principles of behavioral economics in school cafeterias and homes; the online About Eating 5-lesson module based on eating competence concepts, and a family-based FFF component specifically designed for this intervention.

Each component addresses policy and environment in addition to behavior change at school and home. The main research project - school-based FFF - will be implemented in 8 low-to-moderate income schools for two years using an asynchronous design that allows for assessment of the school-based program alone and in combination with both parent programs. Changes in fruit and vegetable intake (measured by self-report, cafeteria plate waste) and activity levels (measured by self-report and accelerometry) are primary outcomes, with measured BMI as a secondary outcome. Subsequent studies will involve the development of an after-school version and adoption of FFF by other districts.

University students will gain valuable research experience and school and Extension educators will receive important childhood obesity prevention training. The project's long term goal is consistent with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) goal of improving the nation's nutrition and health by promoting the development of healthy eating and activity habits in children.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
2640
Inclusion Criteria
  • all students enrolled in participating classrooms are invited to participate
Exclusion Criteria
  • none

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
FACTORIAL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
School OnlySchoolStudents whose schools are randomized to this condition only receive the classroom, cafeteria and SPARK active recess components
School + About EatingAbout EatingStudents whose schools are randomized to this condition only receive the classroom, cafeteria and SPARK active recess components and their parents are invited to participate in the online 6 lesson About Eating program.
School + FamilySchoolStudents whose schools are randomized to this condition receive the classroom, cafeteria and SPARK active recess components and the family component (family nights, parent blog and action packs)
School + About EatingSchoolStudents whose schools are randomized to this condition only receive the classroom, cafeteria and SPARK active recess components and their parents are invited to participate in the online 6 lesson About Eating program.
School + Family + About EatingAbout Eatingstudents whose schools are randomized to this condition receive the classroom, cafeteria and SPARK active recess components and the family component (family nights, parent blog and action packs) and their parents are invited to participate in the online 6 lesson About Eating program.
School + FamilyFamilyStudents whose schools are randomized to this condition receive the classroom, cafeteria and SPARK active recess components and the family component (family nights, parent blog and action packs)
School + Family + About EatingSchoolstudents whose schools are randomized to this condition receive the classroom, cafeteria and SPARK active recess components and the family component (family nights, parent blog and action packs) and their parents are invited to participate in the online 6 lesson About Eating program.
School + Family + About EatingFamilystudents whose schools are randomized to this condition receive the classroom, cafeteria and SPARK active recess components and the family component (family nights, parent blog and action packs) and their parents are invited to participate in the online 6 lesson About Eating program.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in Fruit and Vegetable Consumption at School Lunchassessed 4 times each 9-month school year; once prior to intervention beginning (i.e., September), approximately 10 weeks and then 20 weeks later, and finally once after the intervention ends (i.e., May).

using observation and digital photography we will assess student selection and consumption of fruits and vegetables during school lunch; measured at the grade level

Change in Student Activity Levelassessed 3 times over 1 year; initially prior to the intervention beginning (i.e., September), a 2nd time once the intervention ends (i.e., May), and then again at the beginning of the following school year (i.e., September)

Using accelerometers, we will assess a week of activity; 3 of 8 participating schools have been randomized to participate in this data collection

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Body Mass Indexassessed 3 times over 1 year; initially prior to the intervention beginning (i.e., September), a 2nd time once the intervention ends (i.e., May), and then again at the beginning of the following school year (i.e., September)

using a standard protocol, we will measure height and weight of all participating students and then calculate BMI z-scores

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Leslie Cunningham-Sabo

🇺🇸

Fort Collins, Colorado, United States

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