A Novel Family E-Health Intervention Process To Reduce Childhood Obesity

Participants will be randomized (like the flip of coin) to one of two study groups. Based on the group assigned, participants will receive text messages which include either: 1) reminders of health education available through the patient portal of the electronic medical record for participant's child, or 2) briefs on six health education topics: nutrition, physical activity, sleep, tobacco avoidance, stress management, and social connection. No matter which group assigned, participants will attend one live or virtual group meeting to close the study.

For both groups, researchers will measure knowledge, attitudes and health habits before and after the program. Researchers will also request self-reports of health status (height, weight, waist size, Body Mass Index (BMI), blood pressure, blood sugar, and total cholesterol). Participants will provide the researchers with estimates of most recent blood pressure, total cholesterol, and blood glucose test if known. The study will include text message briefs received at least twice weekly for six months, and will include the following measures:

• General information (e.g., age, gender, education)
• Health knowledge & attitudes (e.g., heart disease, diabetes) & healthy lifestyle practices (e.g., diet, exercise)
• Health status (e.g., Blood pressure, BMI, etc.) The study team estimate that 142 people will enroll in the study.

For both groups, the following will be measured at the first visit (also called the "baseline visit" completed at the time of enrollment) and also at the last visit (during the live or virtual community celebration):

• Participant's health status (height, weight, waist size, Body Mass Index (BMI), blood pressure, blood sugar, and total cholesterol).
• Survey of knowledge, attitudes and health habits.