HomeStyles-2: Shaping HOME Environments and LifeSTYLES to Prevent Childhood Obesity

The aim of the HomeStyles-2 online learning mode RCT is to determine whether this novel, age-appropriate, family intervention enables and motivates parents to shape their home environments and weight-related lifestyle practices (i.e., diet, exercise, sleep) to be more supportive of optimal health and reduced risk of obesity in their middle childhood youth more than those in the control condition. RCT Design CONSORT guidelines extension for social and psychological intervention trials will be used to generate a participant flow diagram and report RCT enrollment and retention data.113 Interested participants will begin by completing a short eligibility screener survey. Eligible participants who give informed consent will have immediate access to the baseline survey. Those who complete the baseline survey, meet survey plausibility checks (e.g., consistent answers to items measuring the same concept, meet minimal likely completion time, do not answer to all questions on a survey page the same), and complete the registration page (i.e., provide name and contact information) will be enrolled in the RCT. Enrolled participants will be systematically randomized by computer by alternating assignment to the experimental or attention control study condition. Recruitment materials and the bona fide treatment to be delivered to the attention control group are designed to blind participant assignment to study condition. Participants will receive intervention materials starting immediately after registration and at weekly intervals for 8 weeks. In week 9 of the study, participants will be invited to take the post survey to assess intervention effects Approximately 8 to 10 weeks after participants complete the post survey, they will be invited to take the follow-up survey to assess longer-term intervention effects.

Each week parents will be encouraged to spend about 15 minutes reviewing intervention materials; think about the changes like those suggested in the materials that could help their families; and implement 1 or 2 easy, quick, low-cost changes in their homes. Intervention materials (described in a subsequent section) provided each week for 8 weeks include an electronic informational guide for parents, tracker to list guide-related goals for the week and monitor progress toward them, 3 to 4 encouraging nudges delivered by SMS and email, and a guide for kids that is available electronically and is mailed to the participant homes along with a reminder magnet.

Participant progress through the RCT will be monitored by project staff by observing their visits to the website. Bilingual staff will be trained in customer service strategies and instructed to quickly address any participant queries submitted by email or phone using scripted responses to ensure equitable care across study groups. Participants will receive modest stipends that increase in value after they complete each survey.

Experimental Group Intervention The HomeStyles-2 experimental group intervention materials (i.e., "Healthy" HomeStyles-2) were designed to be congruent with White House and IOM recommendations for home-centered obesity prevention interventions and critical elements for effective interventions (e.g., interventions are positive, culturally sensitive, supportive of parent-child interaction and child development; develop realistic, effective plans that empower families). Like HomeStyles for preschoolers, HomeStyles-2 for middle childhood intervention materials provide intensive, interactive, fun, non-judgmental opportunities for parents to shape their home environments and lifestyle practices to protect child health. They also promote positive strategies and changes that adults can control in their environments to reduce risk of excessive weight gain in their middle childhood youth. A positive approach teaches individuals what they can do (eat more fruits) rather than giving prohibitions (cut out fries). Substantial evidence supports parent preference for positive messages and the value of promoting positive vs restrictive behaviors to achieve health goals.

Intervention Content. Key factors contributing to childhood obesity that can be suitably addressed in the home environment with middle childhood kids identified for inclusion in the intervention materials were selected using systematic literature reviews and input from experts in childhood obesity prevention. The most salient factors affecting school-age children's health and nutritional status that emerged were inadequate intake of fruits and vegetables, infrequent family meals, excessive consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, large portion sizes, irregular breakfast consumption, limited physical activity, and inadequate sleep. An additional factor was children's limited food preparation skills. Attitudes toward engaging in healthy behaviors (i.e., eating fruits and vegetables, having family meals, curtailing intake of sweet beverages, controlling portion sizes, eating breakfast, getting physical exercise and limiting screentime, getting sufficient sleep, and giving children food preparation opportunities), barriers to performing healthy behaviors, strategies for overcoming barriers to healthy behaviors, and confidence in the ability to perform healthy behaviors regularly, as well as determinants of quality of life, were explored via focus groups with parents of middle-childhood youth and children ages 6 to 11 years.