Effectiveness of Differing Levels of Support for Family Mealtimes on Obesity Prevention Among Head Start Preschoolers
Overview
- Phase
- N/A
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Obesity
- Sponsor
- Michigan State University
- Enrollment
- 810
- Locations
- 4
- Primary Endpoint
- Change in BMIz
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- 4 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
Socioeconomic disparities in early childhood place low-income children at 1.5 to 2 times higher risk for obesity compared to middle- to upper-income children. Obesity interventions have turned toward the promotion of family mealtimes. This study will test the effects of 6 intervention components reflecting differing levels of supports to ultimately reduce childhood obesity prevalence and increase the frequency of healthy family mealtimes and improve dietary quality. The investigators will test 6 intervention components in Phase 1 (Screening Phase), resulting in the implementation and evaluation via a randomized controlled trial of a "final" intervention model in Phase 2 (Confirming Phase). The investigators hypothesize that providing low-income families with effective supports to enhance family capability to plan and implement family mealtimes will lead to improvements in children's adiposity indices, dietary quality and frequency of family meals.
Detailed Description
This study is comprised of two phases. In the first phase of the study, we will test associations between participation in combinations of 6 intervention components reflecting differing levels of practical resources to increase the frequency of healthy family mealtimes, improve children's dietary quality and ultimately reduce childhood obesity prevalence. Phase 1 utilizes the Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST) design to test combinations of the 6 intervention components which include: (1) Meal Delivery: the home delivery of pre-made healthy family meals including recipes weekly (2) Ingredient Delivery: the home delivery of ingredients and recipes to make healthy family meals weekly; (3) Community Kitchen: community kitchen sessions in which families prepare healthy meals with recipes to take home weekly; (4) Didactics: nutrition education classes using the Preschool Obesity Prevention Series (POPS) curriculum (5) Cooking Lessons: cooking lessons/demonstrations with recipes weekly; and (6) Cookware/Flatware: delivery of flatware/ cookware to utilize for family meals delivered at the beginning of the intervention. The goal of Phase 1 is to identify the intervention components most robustly related to decreased BMI z-score, increased dietary quality and frequency of family meals. Phase 1 will enroll approximately 500 parents of preschoolers. The goal of Phase 2 is to test the selected intervention components (identified in Phase 1) in a randomized controlled trial with approximately 250 participants. Participants in both phases will be enrolled through Head Start programs and/or university research recruitment platforms, social media, and posted flyers. The intervention period in Phase 1 will be 8 weeks, and the intervention period in Phase 2 will be expanded to 12 weeks.
Investigators
Holly Brophy-Herb
Professor
Michigan State University
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •Preschool aged child
Exclusion Criteria
- •Significant feeding/eating disorders that would preclude participation in the interventions
- •Child is a foster child
- •Parent is non-English speaking
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Change in BMIz
Time Frame: Prior to the implementation of the intervention (Baseline) and immediately post the 12 week intervention period (Post).
Research staff measured children without shoes or heavy clothing. Measures were taken twice and averaged. BMI was calculated and child BMIz derived. Child obesity was defined as BMI \> 95th percentile and overweight/obesity defined as a BMI \> 85th percentile for age and sex. Note that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, data on BMIz were not collected beginning in March 2020. The z-score is based on United States Centers for Disease Control growth references for children. A z-score of 0 reflects the 50th percentile based on the US CDC children's reference growth charts. A z-score \< -1.645 indicates that the child is underweight. A healthy BMIz score is between -1.645 and 1.036. BMIz \>1.036 = criteria for overweight; BMIz \>1.645 = criteria for obese
Secondary Outcomes
- Change in Dietary Quality-Parent Reported Fruit Intake(Prior to the implementation of the intervention (Baseline) and immediately post the 12 week intervention period (Post).)
- Change in Dietary Quality-Parent Reported Vegetables(Prior to the implementation of the intervention (Baseline) and immediately post the 12 week intervention period (Post).)
- Change in Dietary Quality- Observed Vegetables(Prior to the implementation of the intervention (Baseline) and immediately post the 12 week intervention period (Post).)
- Change in Frequency of Healthy Family Mealtimes(Prior to the implementation of the intervention (Baseline) and immediately post the 12 week intervention period (Post).)
- Change in Dietary Quality-Observed Fruit(Prior to the implementation of the intervention (Baseline) and immediately post the 12 week intervention period (Post).)