Evaluating Parents and Adult Caregivers as “Agents of Change” for Treating Obese Children: Evidence for Parent Behavior Change Strategies and Research Gaps

'You just eyeball it': Parent and nursery staff perceptions and influences on child portion size: A reflexive thematic analysis

Background: Childhood obesity is one of the most serious public health epidemics of the 21st century. Observational studies report that increases in portion size (PS) have occurred in parallel with levels of obesity. Increased PSs of high-energy-dense foods can promote overeating, and without compensatory behaviours, can contribute to childhood obesity. Caregivers make decisions about PSs for children in the home and nursery environment, thus are gatekeepers to child food intake. Understanding caregiver PS decisions can aid in the best practice of PS provision to young children. The aim of this study was to explore parent and nursery staff influences on child PS selection and their suggestions for useful tools/strategies in PS decisions. Methods: A qualitative design was employed using focus group discussions (FGDs) with parents and nursery staff of children aged 3-5 years. FGDs were employed given their ability to generate rich data, as well as permit the exploration of collective perceptions, attitudes, behaviours and experiences. Data were analysed using an inductive, semantic approach to reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Four FGDs were conducted: two with parents (n = 13), two with nursery staff (n = 17). Four overarching themes were derived: (i) awareness of PS guidelines; (ii) control over PS; (iii) social influences on children's eating behaviours; (iv) child-specific, social and external factors influencing parent and nursery staff PS decisions. Additionally, participants discussed tools/strategies they believe would be useful in PS decisions. Conclusion: Data from the themes suggest that caregiver control, social, child-specific and external factors are more influential than PS guidelines in both parent and nursery staff PS decisions for young children aged 3-5 years. These findings can inform future childhood obesity prevention initiatives focussed on improving parent and nursery staff provision/use of age-appropriate PSs.

Patient-Reported Outcomes to Describe Global Health and Family Relationships in Pediatric Weight Management

Background: Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) can assess chronic health. The study aims were to pilot a survey through the PEDSnet Healthy Weight Network (HWN), collecting PROs in tertiary care pediatric weight management programs (PWMP) in the United States, and demonstrate that a 50% enrollment rate was feasible; describe PROs in this population; and explore the relationship between child/family characteristics and PROs. Methods: Participants included 12- to 18-year-old patients and parents of 5- to 18-year-olds receiving care at PWMP in eight HWN sites. Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS®) measures assessed global health (GH), fatigue, stress, and family relationships (FR). T-score cut points defined poor GH or FR or severe fatigue or stress. Generalized estimating equations explored relationships between patient/family characteristics and PROMIS measures. Results: Overall, 63% of eligible parents and 52% of eligible children enrolled. Seven sites achieved the goal enrollment for parents and four for children. Participants included 1447 children. By self-report, 44.6% reported poor GH, 8.6% poor FR, 9.3% severe fatigue, and 7.6% severe stress. Multiple-parent household was associated with lower odds of poor GH by parent proxy report [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.69, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.55-0.88] and poor FR by self-report (aOR 0.36, 95% CI 0.17-0.74). Parents were significantly more likely to report that the child had poor GH and poor FR when a child had multiple households. Conclusions: PROs were feasibly assessed across the HWN, although implementation varied by site. Nearly half of the children seeking care in PWMP reported poor GH, and family context may play a role. Future work may build on this pilot to show how PROs can inform clinical care in PWMP.

Human-centered designed communication tools for obesity prevention in early life

Objective

How we communicate about obesity is critical as treatment paradigms shift upstream. We previously identified parental perceptions, concerns, beliefs, and communication preferences about early life obesity risk. We engaged parents of children 0 to 24 months of age and pediatricians from Indianapolis, Indiana, USA in the co-design of messages and tools that can be used to facilitate parent/provider conversations about early life obesity prevention.

Methods

From April to June 2021, we conducted a series of co-design workshops with parents of children ages 0 to 24 months and pediatricians to identify their preferences for communicating obesity prevention in the setting of a pediatric well visit. Human-centered design techniques, including affinity diagraming and model building, were used to inform key elements of a communication model and communication strategy messages. These elements were combined and refined to create prototype tools that were subsequently refined using stakeholder feedback.

Results

Parent participants included 11 mothers and 2 fathers: 8 white, 4 black, and 1 Asian; median age 33 years with 38% reporting annual household incomes less than $50,000. Pediatricians included 7 female and 6 male providers; 69% white. Through an iterative process of co-design, we created an exam room poster that addresses common misconceptions about infant feeding, sleep and exercise, and a behavior change plan to foster parent/provider collaboration focused on achieving children's healthy weight.

Conclusions

Our hands-on, collaborative approach may ultimately improve uptake, acceptability and usability of early life obesity interventions by ensuring that parents remain at the center of prevention efforts.

Child food portion sizes in the home environment: how do parents decide?

The consumption of larger portion sizes (PS) of food has been implicated in the increased prevalence of childhood obesity. The home is usually the first place children learn about food, however, little is known about how parents determine child PS in the home environment. This narrative review aimed to explore parental beliefs, decisions, strategies and barriers to the provision of appropriate food PS for children in the home environment. Results indicate that parental decisions on child food PS are based on the amounts they serve themselves, personal intuition and knowledge of child appetite. Owing to the habitual nature of food provision, parental decisions on child PS may be taken without conscious thought and/or could be part of a complex decision-making process influenced by several interlinked factors, including parental childhood mealtime experiences, other family members and child weight status. Strategies to determine child-appropriate PS include modelling the desired PS behaviour, use of unit-based food packaging and PS estimation aids, and providing the child with a degree of autonomy to rely on their own appetite cues. A lack of knowledge/awareness of PS guidance is a key barrier identified by parents to the provision of age-appropriate PS, warranting the inclusion of salient child-appropriate PS guidance within national dietary recommendations. Further home-based interventions to improve the provision of appropriate child PS are required, leveraged on parental strategies already in use, as outlined in this review.

The role of parents in behavioral treatment for adolescent obesity: design and rationale for the TEENS+ randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

There is an urgent need for innovative approaches to adolescent obesity treatment, particularly among individuals from racially and ethnically marginalized backgrounds, who face increased risk of obesity and its associated morbidity and mortality. There is a particular dearth of research on the long-term efficacy of adolescent obesity treatments. Further, research and clinical practice guidelines consistently recommend parents' inclusion in their adolescents' obesity treatment, yet the most effective strategy to engage parents in adolescent obesity treatment remains unclear. Towards that end, this investigation will conduct a fully-powered, randomized clinical trial to examine the efficacy of two distinct approaches to involving parents in their adolescents' obesity treatment.

METHODS

Participants will be 210 12-16 year old adolescents (body mass index [BMI]≥85th percentile) and parents (BMI≥25 kg/m2) with overweight or obesity. Dyads will be randomized to one of two 4-month treatments: 1) TEENS+Parents as Coaches (PAC), engaging parents as helpers in their child's weight management via parent skills training based on authoritative parenting, or 2) TEENS+Parent Weight Loss (PWL), engaging parents in their own behavioral weight management. All adolescents will participate in the TEENS+ protocol, which includes nutrition education with dietary goals, supervised physical activity, and behavioral support, and integrates motivational interviewing to enhance treatment engagement. Assessments of anthropometrics, dietary intake, physical activity, parenting and home environment variables will be completed at 0, 2, 4, 8, and 12 months with the primary endpoint at 12-month follow-up.

DISCUSSION

Results of this investigation have the potential to significantly advance science in this area and ultimately inform clinical practice guidelines related to the role of parents in adolescent obesity treatment.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03851796. Registered: February 22, 2019.

Using the RE-AIM framework to evaluate the feasibility of a parent-focused intervention targeting childhood obesity

BACKGROUND

Childhood obesity remains a serious public health concern. Community-based childhood obesity treatment interventions have the potential to improve health behaviors and outcomes among children, but require thorough evaluation to facilitate translation of research into practice. The purpose of the current study was to determine the feasibility of a community-based, parent-focused childhood obesity intervention ("C.H.A.M.P. Families") using the RE-AIM framework, an evaluation tool for health interventions.

METHODS

A single-group, non-randomized, repeated measures feasibility study was conducted. Participants (n = 16 parents/caregivers of 11 children with obesity) completed a 13-week parent-focused education intervention. The intervention consisted of three main components: (a) eight group-based (parent-only) education sessions; (b) eight home-based (family-centered) activities; and (c) two group-based follow-up support sessions for parents and children. The five dimensions of RE-AIM-reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance-were assessed using various measures and data sources (e.g., child, parent/caregiver, costing, census) obtained throughout the study period. Outcome variables were measured at baseline, mid-intervention, post-intervention, and at a 6-month follow-up.

RESULTS

Overall, the C.H.A.M.P. Families intervention reached approximately 0.09% of eligible families in London, Ontario. Despite the small number, participants were generally representative of the population from which they were drawn, and program participation rates were high (reach). Findings also suggest that involvement in the program was associated with improved health-related quality of life among children (effectiveness/individual-level maintenance). In addition, the intervention had high fidelity to protocol, attendance rates, and cost-effectiveness (implementation). Lastly, important community partnerships were established and maintained (adoption/setting-level maintenance).

CONCLUSIONS

Based on a detailed and comprehensive RE-AIM evaluation, the C.H.A.M.P. Families intervention appears to be a promising parent-focused approach to the treatment of childhood obesity.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ISRCTN Registry, Study ID ISRCTN 10752416 . Registered 24 April 2018.

Preliminary Support for the Use of Motivational Interviewing to Improve Parent/Adult Caregiver Behavior for Obesity and Cancer Prevention

Motivational interviewing (MI) is a promising behavioral intervention for improving parent and adult caregiver (PAC) health behavior for obesity and cancer prevention. This study explored the preliminary effects of MI from a registered dietitian (RDMI) within an obesity prevention intervention to promote PAC behavior change and positive proxy effects on children and the home environment. N = 36 PAC/child dyads from low-resource communities were enrolled in a randomized trial testing a 10-week obesity prevention intervention. Intervention dyads were offered RDMI sessions. Data were collected at baseline and post-intervention (PAC diet quality (Healthy Eating Index (HEI)), child skin carotenoids, home environment, and PAC ambivalence regarding improving diet). Results show that for every RDMI dose, PAC HEI scores increased (0.571 points, p = 0.530), child skin carotenoid scores improved (1.315%, p = 0.592), and the home food environment improved (3.559%, p = 0.026). There was a significant positive relationship between RDMI dose and change in ambivalence (ρ = 0.533, p = 0.007). Higher baseline ambivalence was associated with greater dose (ρ = -0.287, p = 0.173). Thus, RDMI for PACs may improve diets among PACs who are otherwise ambivalent, with potential effects on the diets of their children and the home food environment. Such intervention strategies have the potential for greater effect, strengthening behavioral interventions targeting obesity and cancer.

Changes in Child Weight, Behaviors, and Family Dynamics during Parental Participation in a Medical Weight Management Program: A Longitudinal Uncontrolled Pilot Study

Background: There is limited evidence of the effects of parental participation in outpatient medical weight management (MWM) programs on children. The aims of the project were to (1) identify time effects from parental participation in the MWM program on changes in child weight trajectories, healthy and unhealthy weight control practices, physical and sedentary activity, parental restrictive feeding and pressure to eat, and family functioning and communication and (2) determine differences based on child factors. Methods: A longitudinal uncontrolled pilot study was conducted, in which parent-child (ages 7-19) dyads completed assessments at parents' MWM program initiation, 3 months (mid-program), 6 months (end of program), and 12 months to determine sustained effects. Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was completed using a mixed multilevel modeling approach using Restricted Maximum Likelihood estimation method; each outcome was additionally analyzed with child baseline weight status, age group, and sex as between-subjects factors. Results: Fifty three dyads met inclusion criteria, 23 completed the initial assessment (enrollment: 43.3%), and 13 completed the 12-month assessment (retention: 56.5%). Significant effects over time were observed for decreased parental restrictive feeding (p < 0.038) over 12 months, and group by time effects were observed for increased restrictive feeding for female compared to male children (p = 0.025) over 12 months. Marginally significant group by time effects were found for increased impaired family functioning (p = 0.054) and communication (p = 0.054) for children with overweight/obesity compared to healthy weight children over 12 months. Conclusions: Female children and children with overweight/obesity may experience increased negative family dynamics (restriction of food, family functioning, and communication) through parental MWM programs.

Effects of a mobile health nutrition intervention on dietary intake in children who have autism spectrum disorder

Background

Children who have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) show preferences for processed foods, such as salty and sugary snacks (SSS) and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB), while healthier foods, such as fruits and vegetables (FV), are consumed less. Innovative tools are needed that can efficiently disseminate evidence-based interventions and engage autistic children to improve their diet.

Aim

The aim of this 3-month randomized trial was to test the initial efficacy of a mobile health (mHealth) nutrition intervention on changing consumption of targeted healthy (FV) and less healthy foods/beverages (SSS, SSB) in children who have ASD, ages 6-10, who were picky eaters.

Methods

Thirty-eight parent-child dyads were randomly assigned to either an intervention (technology) group or a wait list control (education) group. The intervention included behavioral skills training, a high level of personalization for dietary goals, and involved parents as "agents of change." Parents in the education group received general nutrition education and the dietary goals but did not receive skills training. Children's intake was assessed at baseline and at 3 months using 24-hour dietary recalls.

Results

While there were no significant group-by-time interactions (P > 0.25) for any of the primary outcomes, we found a significant main effect of time for FV intake (P = 0.04) indicating that both groups consumed more FV at 3 months (2.58 ± 0.30 servings/day) than at baseline (2.17 ± 0.28 servings/day; P = 0.03). Children in the intervention group who consumed few FV at baseline and showed high engagement with the technology increased their FV intake by 1.5 servings/day (P < 0.01). Children's taste/smell sensitivity significantly predicted their FV intake (P = 0.0446); for each unit of lower taste/smell sensitivity (indicating greater sensory processing abnormalities), FV intake increased by 0.13 ± 0.1 servings/day.

Discussion

This mHealth intervention did not yield significant between-group differences for changing consumption of targeted foods/beverages. Only children who consumed few FV at baseline and highly engaged with the technology increased their FV intake at 3 months. Future research should test additional strategies to expand the intervention's impact on a wider range of foods while also reaching a broader group of children who have ASD. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03424811.Clinical Trial Registration: This study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03424811.

The effectiveness of a web-based Dutch parenting program to prevent overweight in children 9-13 years of age: Results of a two-armed cluster randomized controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

Although parental support is an important component in programs designed to prevent overweight in children, current programs pay remarkably little attention to the role of parenting. We therefore developed a web-based parenting program entitled "Making a healthy deal with your child". This e-learning program can be incorporated into existing overweight prevention programs. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of this e-learning program.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The effectiveness was examined in a two-armed cluster randomized controlled trial. The participants were 475 parent-child dyads of children 9-13 years of age in the Netherlands who participated in an existing schoolclass-based overweight prevention program. At the school grade level, parents were randomly assigned to either the intervention or the control condition. Measurements were taken from both parents and children at baseline, and 5 and 12 months after baseline. Primary outcomes included the child's dietary and sedentary behavior, and level of physical activity. Secondary outcomes included general parenting style, specific parenting practices, and parental self-efficacy. Linear mixed effects models and generalized linear mixed effects models were conducted in R.

RESULTS

Intention-to-treat analyses and completers only revealed no significant effects between the intervention and control condition on energy balance-related behaviors of the child and parenting skills after correction for multiple testing. The parents' mean satisfaction with the e-learning program (on a 10-point scale) was 7.0±1.1.

CONCLUSIONS

Although parents were generally satisfied with the parenting program, following this program had no significant beneficial effects regarding the children's energy balance-related behaviors or the parenting skills compared to the control condition. This program may be more beneficial if used by high-risk groups (e.g. parents of children with unhealthy energy balance-related behaviors and/or with overweight) compared to the general population, warranting further study.

Food security and feeding behaviours in low-income, Latinx families with preschool-aged children

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association between food security and feeding practices in Latinx parents of pre-school-aged children and examine possible effect modification by parental self-efficacy.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional assessment using the US Department of Agriculture screener for food insecurity as the exposure and sub-scales of the Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire as the outcome with the General Self-Efficacy Scale as an effect modifier. Non-parametric descriptive statistics were used to compare groups based on food security status.

SETTING

Two Latinx communities with low-socioeconomic status in Texas in 2017 and in Oregon in 2018-2019.

PARTICIPANTS

Latinx parents of preschool aged children, English and Spanish speaking. Dyads were excluded if they had moderate-severe developmental disabilities, a seizure disorder with a restrictive diet or taking medications known to influence typical growth.

RESULTS

Of the 168 families in Oregon, 65 (38 %) reported food insecurity, and 10 (21 %) of the 48 families in Texas reported food insecurity. Food security was associated with greater parental monitoring practices in both the Texas and Oregon samples. We observed no differences in creating a healthy home food environment by food security status in either sample. Parental general self-efficacy showed evidence of effect modification in Oregon - only parents with lower self-efficacy showed a significant association between food security and feeding practices.

CONCLUSIONS

Latinx parents of preschool children experience high levels of food insecurity, which are associated with maladaptive parental feeding practices. Greater parental general self-efficacy moderates this association and could buffer the effects of food insecurity on children's health.

Qualitative Comparative Analysis of Program and Participant Factors That Explain Success in a Micropolitan Pediatric Weight Management Intervention

Background: Building Healthy Families (BHF) was developed through a community-academic partnership to provide a 12-week family-based obesity treatment program. Nine cohorts of BHF have been delivered in multiple micropolitan settings between 2009 and 2016, but participant outcomes have varied. This study sought to explore the variation in BHF outcomes to identify the necessary and sufficient conditions that are associated with larger 12-week reductions in BMI z-scores. Methods: A qualitative comparative analysis was used to determine potential causal conditions or combination of conditions associated with larger reductions in BMI z-score. Seventy-five participants with 12-week outcome data were rank ordered as the 10 most successful participants (largest reductions in BMI z-score; m ± std = -0.64 ± 0.18) and the 10 least successful participants (smallest reductions or an increase in BMI z-score; m ± std = 0.02 ± 0.04). The conditions selected for analysis were identified based on theory and the delivery team's experience with implementing BHF. Results: Necessary conditions (i.e., present in all highly successful participants, but also some less successful participants) included children with high attendance and self-regulation, at least one adult with high attendance and self-regulation, a mother who lost weight during the program and achieved clinically meaningful weight loss. Sufficient conditions (i.e., present in only the highly successful participants) included mothers with self-regulation scores >45% (range 46.7%-98.2%), and children with a combination of high attendance (72%-100%) and self-regulation scores ≥45% (45%-92.7%). Conclusion: Program implementers should continue to focus on encouraging high attendance and emphasize the necessity of enacting self-regulation strategies at both the child and parent level.

Efficacy of Mobile Instant Messaging-Delivered Brief Motivational Interviewing for Parents to Promote Physical Activity in Pediatric Cancer Survivors: A Randomized Clinical Trial

IMPORTANCE

Physical activity has beneficial effects that mitigate cancer- and treatment-related late effects. However, children who survive cancer are often physically inactive. Brief motivational interviewing may be an effective approach for increasing children's physical activity levels.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the effects of mobile instant messaging-delivered brief motivational interviewing for parents in promoting regular physical activity in children who have survived cancer.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

An assessor-blinded randomized clinical trial was conducted at 2 Hong Kong pediatric oncology outpatient clinics from March 1, 2019, to January 29, 2021. A total of 161 children who had survived cancer, aged 9 to 16 years, and their parents were randomized (1:1) to an intervention or control group.

INTERVENTIONS

The intervention group received a 6-month mobile instant messaging-delivered brief motivational interviewing using a strategy menu. Parent-child dyads in both groups received a health advice session and were directed to a physical activity website at baseline.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The primary outcome was the children's physical activity levels at 12-month follow-up, measured by the Chinese University of Hong Kong: Physical Activity Rating for Children and Youth (total sores: 0-10, higher scores indicate greater physical activity levels). Secondary outcomes were cancer-related fatigue levels, handgrip strength, peak expiratory flow rate, and quality of life. Intention-to-treat analysis was performed.

RESULTS

Of the 161 children included in the study, 93 were boys (57.8%), and the mean (SD) age was 12.4 (2.4) years. Generalized estimating equation analyses showed a significant improvement in outcomes in the intervention group compared with the control group: physical activity levels (group-by-time interaction, 6 months: β = 3.09; 95% CI, 2.65-3.53; P < .001; 12 months: β = 3.91; 95% CI, 3.45-4.36; P < .001), cancer-related fatigue (6 months: β = -5.69; 95% CI, -8.03 to -3.35; P < .001; 12 months: β = -9.16; 95% CI, -11.31 to -7.00; P < .001), left handgrip strength (6 months: β = 2.69; 95% CI, 0.96-4.43; P = .002; 12 months: β = 5.52; 95% CI, 3.70-7.33; P < .001), right handgrip strength (6 months: β = 2.75; 95% CI, 1.01-4.50; P = .002; 12 months: β = 5.45; 95% CI, 3.62-7.27; P < .001), peak expiratory flow rate (12 months: β = 28.51; 95% CI, 16.10-40.92; P < .001), and quality of life (6 months: β = 5.01; 95% CI, 1.19-8.82; P = .01); 12 months: β = 14.19; 95% CI, 10.84-17.54; P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

In this randomized clinical trial, mobile instant messaging-delivered brief motivational interviewing was effective in promoting the adoption and maintenance of regular physical activity and ameliorating cancer- or treatment-related adverse effects in children who survived cancer.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03859271.

Association between parenthood and cardiovascular disease risk: Analysis from NHANES 2011-2016

The objective of this study was to examine the association between parenthood and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors among a nationally representative sample of United States adults. A cross sectional analysis was conducted with adults aged 20-59 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2016. Adults were classified as parents and non-parents based on the presence of children birth-17 years in the home. CVD risk factors assessed included: physical inactivity, obesity, blood pressure, HDL cholesterol, glycohemoglobin, and smoking status. Multivariable logistic regression models stratified by sex were used to examine the association between parenthood and each risk factor. 10,908 adults (5,329 [49%] male, weighted mean age 39.6 years) were included. In adjusted analyses, fathers had greater odds of obesity (OR: 1.22; 95% CI: 1.04-1.42) and lower odds of being a current smoker (OR: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.68-0.98) compared to non-fathers. Mothers had greater odds of physical inactivity (OR: 1.27; 95% CI: 1.03-1.56) and low HDL cholesterol (OR: 1.24; 95% CI: 1.06-1.45), and lower odds of being a current smoker (OR: 0.78; 95% CI: 0.63-0.96) compared to non-mothers. Parents with younger children in the household tended to have greater odds of CVD risk factors compared to non-parents. No clear patterns emerged in CVD factor risk based on the number of children in the household. Parents are at greater risk for several modifiable CVD risk factors. This illustrates the importance of including parental health promotion in settings that serve children and implementing policies that support parental health and wellbeing.

Longitudinal associations between early child weight gain, parent feeding, child self-regulation, and later child body mass index

BACKGROUND

Few longitudinal studies have examined associations of child weight trajectories, maternal demandingness and responsiveness during feeding, and child self-regulation.

OBJECTIVE

We examined if child weight-for-length trajectories from 6 weeks to 2 years of age were associated with maternal demandingness and responsiveness at child age 3 years old, and if maternal feeding dimensions predicted child BMI trajectories from 4.5 to 7.5 years among Mexican American children from low-income families. Child self-regulation was evaluated as a potential mechanism linking maternal feeding with child BMI.

METHOD

Child (N = 322) weight and length/height were assessed at 10 timepoints from 6 weeks through 7.5 years. Mothers completed the Caregiver Feeding Style Questionnaire when the child was 3 years of age.

RESULTS

A steeper slope of weight-for-length z scores from 6 weeks to 2 years (indicating more rapid weight gain) was associated with less maternal demands during feeding at 3 years. More maternal demandingness at child age 3 years predicted lower child BMI at 4.5 years, but not trajectories from 4.5 to 7 years. Child self-regulation was not associated with child BMI from 4.5 to 7.5 years.

CONCLUSION

The findings highlight how the relationship between mothers and children during feeding can be bidirectional and potentially influenced by the developmental stage.

The role of parents in adolescent obesity treatment: Results of the TEENS+ randomized clinical pilot trial

BACKGROUND

The optimal role for involving parents in adolescent obesity treatment is unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To demonstrate that two parent approaches within adolescent obesity treatment are distinct, as evidenced by differential parent outcomes, and determine the preliminary efficacy of each approach on adolescent weight loss.

METHODS

Adolescent/parent dyads (N = 82; mean adolescent age = 13.7 ± 1.2 years) participated in TEENS+, a 4-month behavioural weight loss treatment. Participants were randomized to: (1) TEENS+parents as coaches (PAC; parent skills training), or (2) TEENS+parent weight loss (PWL; adult behavioural weight loss). Assessments occurred at 0, 4 (post-treatment), and 7-months. Within- and between-group repeated measures general linear mixed models examined change in parent weight (∆kg; primary outcome); parenting, feeding, weight control strategies, home environment, and adolescent body mass index (∆BMI; secondary outcomes).

RESULTS

PWL parents had greater 4-month weight losses (∆kg_0-4m  = -5.14 ± 4.87 kg) compared to PAC (-2.07 ± 3.89 kg; between-group p < 0.01). Key constructs differed between groups as expected. Both groups yielded significant within-group adolescent ∆BMI_0-4m (PWL: -0.97 ± 1.38 kg/m² vs. PAC: -0.93 ± 1.42 kg/m² ; ps < 0.01); during maintenance, adolescents in PWL had ∆BMI_4-7m increases (+0.41 ± 1.07 kg/m² ; p = 0.02) while PAC did not (+0.05 ± 1.31 kg/m² ; p = 0.82).

CONCLUSION

Parent treatments were distinct in implementation and both yielded significant 4-month adolescent weight loss. Differential weight patterns were observed during maintenance, favouring PAC, warranting further exploration.

The degree of consistency of applying parental dietary and sedentary behavior rules as indicators for overweight in children: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Review studies increasingly emphasize the importance of the role of parenting in interventions for preventing overweight in children. The aim of this study was to examine typologies regarding how consistently parents apply energy-balance related behavior rules, and the association between these typologies and socio-demographic characteristics, energy balance-related behaviors among school age children, and the prevalence of being overweight.

METHODS

For this cross-sectional study, we had access to a database managed by a Municipal Health Service Department in the Netherlands. In total, 4,865 parents with children 4-12 years of age participated in this survey and completed a standardized questionnaire. Parents classified their consistency of applying rules as "strict", "indulgent", or "no rules". Typologies were identified using latent class analyses. We used regression analyses to examine how the typologies differed with respect to the covariates socio-demographic characteristics, children's energy balance-related behaviors, and weight status.

RESULTS

We identified four stable, distinct parental typologies with respect to applying dietary and sedentary behavior rules. Overall, we found that parents who apply "overall strict EBRB rules" had the highest level of education and that their children practiced healthier behaviors compared to the children of parents in the other three classes. In addition, we found that parents who apply "indulgent dietary rules and no sedentary rules" had the lowest level of education and the highest percentage of non-Caucasians; in addition, their children 8-12 years of age had the highest likelihood of being overweight compared to children of parents with "no dietary rules".

CONCLUSIONS

Parents' consistency in applying rules regarding dietary and sedentary behaviors was associated with parents' level of education and ethnic background, as well as with children's dietary and sedentary behaviors and their likelihood of becoming overweight. Our results may contribute to helping make healthcare professionals aware that children of parents who do not apply sedentary behavior rules are more likely to become overweight, as well as the importance of encouraging parents to apply strict dietary and sedentary behavior rules. These results can serve as a starting point for developing effective strategies to prevent overweight among children.

Comparison of Hospital Consultation and Summer Camp Lifestyle Intervention Programs for Sustained Body Weight Loss in Overweight/Obese Greek Children

Two lifestyle intervention programs of a health initiative named "Evrostia" were conducted at (a) an outpatient obesity clinic of a children's hospital and (b) summer camp (SC), respectively. Thirty overweight/obese children were randomly selected to participate in each intervention arm to assess the efficacy of the SC intervention and its possible superiority over usual hospital consultation (HC) practice. There was a statistically significant decrease in body weight (BW), and body mass index (BMI) in both programs. A higher duration of reduced BW was observed in the SC compared to HC intervention. Regarding the nutritional behavior, there was a significant increase in the consumption of breakfast, fruit and vegetables, and a reduction in the consumption of beverages and sweets in the SC group. A significant increase in the hours of weekly physical activity was also observed in children of the SC program. The comparison between the two lifestyle intervention programs showed that the SC program improved nutritional behaviors and physical activity and promoted longer preservation of BW loss than that of the HC program. Thus, the holistic and experiential approach of the SC program was more successful in the treatment of overweight and obesity in children than a conventional HC program.

Caregiver Perceptions of Child Diet Quality: What Influenced Their Judgment

This study aimed at assessing the correctness of a caregiver’s perception of their child’s diet status and to determine the factors which may influence their judgment. 815 child-caregiver pairs were recruited from two primary schools. 3-day 24-h recall was used to evaluate children’s dietary intake, Chinese Children Dietary Index (CCDI) was used to evaluate the dietary quality. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to explore the factors that could influence the correctness of caregiver’s perception. In the current study, 371 (62.1%) children with “high diet quality” and 35 (16.1%) children with “poor diet quality” were correctly perceived by their caregivers. Children who were correctly perceived as having “poor diet quality” consumed less fruits and more snacks and beverages than those who were not correctly perceived (p < 0.05). Obese children were more likely to be correctly identified as having “poor diet quality” (OR = 3.532, p = 0.040), and less likely to be perceived as having “high diet quality”, even when they had a balanced diet (OR = 0.318, p = 0.020). Caregivers with a high level of education were more likely to correctly perceive children’s diet quality (OR = 3.532, p = 0.042). Caregivers in this study were shown to lack the ability to correctly identify their children’s diet quality, especially amongst children with a “poor diet quality”. Obesity, significantly low consumption of fruits or high consumption of snacks can raise caregivers’ awareness of “poor diet quality”.

Examining current physical activity interventions in Black school-age children and parents: A systematic review

Obesity is prevalent in Black children and adults; increasing physical activity (PA) can aid in reducing childhood obesity in both age groups. The purpose of this systematic review is to examine current research on PA interventions in school-age Black children. Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search was conducted in six databases for PA interventions in Black children. A total of 13 articles met inclusion criteria (n = 7 randomized controlled trial, n = 5 quasi-experimental, n = 1 cross-sectional). The majority of the articles were on a combination of diet and PA programs (n = 9). Four articles targeted PA and parental role modeling of PA as the outcome showing positive intervention effects. Nine additional studies included PA as an outcome variable along with at least one additional obesity-related predictor. PA interventions for Black school-age children typically use a parent-child dyadic approach (n = 13), are guided by theory (n = 11) and are high quality. However, continued investigation is warranted to draw definitive conclusions and determine how to best involve parents within the PA interventions. Theory-driven higher quality trials that clearly describe the structured PA component and outcomes among Black parent-child dyads are needed.

Special Considerations for Healthy Lifestyle Promotion Across the Life Span in Clinical Settings: A Science Advisory From the American Heart Association

At a population level, engagement in healthy lifestyle behaviors is suboptimal in the United States. Moreover, marked disparities exist in healthy lifestyle behaviors and cardiovascular risk factors as a result of social determinants of health. In addition, there are specific challenges to engaging in healthy lifestyle behaviors related to age, developmental stage, or major life circumstances. Key components of a healthy lifestyle are consuming a healthy dietary pattern, engaging in regular physical activity, avoiding use of tobacco products, habitually attaining adequate sleep, and managing stress. For these health behaviors, there are guidelines and recommendations; however, promotion in clinical settings can be challenging, particularly in certain population groups. These challenges must be overcome to facilitate greater promotion of healthy lifestyle practices in clinical settings. The 5A Model (assess, advise, agree, assist, and arrange) was developed to provide a framework for clinical counseling with consideration for the demands of clinical settings. In this science advisory, we summarize specific considerations for lifestyle-related behavior change counseling using the 5A Model for patients across the life span. In all life stages, social determinants of health and unmet social-related health needs, as well as overweight and obesity, are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, and there is the potential to modify this risk with lifestyle-related behavior changes. In addition, specific considerations for lifestyle-related behavior change counseling in life stages in which lifestyle behaviors significantly affect cardiovascular disease risk are outlined. Greater attention to healthy lifestyle behaviors during every clinician visit will contribute to improved cardiovascular health.

Parental Adherence to Ideal Cardiovascular Health Status Was Associated With a Substantially Lower Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity in Their Offspring Aged 6-18 Years

Background: Parental health status had a potential influence on offspring health. This study aimed to investigate the separate associations between paternal and maternal cardiovascular health statuses and the prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity in the offspring. Methods: Data were from a cross-sectional study conducted in seven provinces or cities of China in 2013. A total of 29,317 children aged 6-18 years old and their parents, making up 9,585 father-offspring pairs and 19,732 mother-offspring pairs, were included in the final analysis. Information on parental cardiovascular health status factors (dietary behaviors, body mass index (BMI), smoking, physical activity, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus) was obtained from the structured self-administrated questionnaires. Based on the health status factors, we then generated an ideal cardiovascular health (iCVH) score. The overweight and obesity of children were defined using age- and sex-specific cutoffs based on the International Obesity Task Force criteria. A multilevel log-binomial regression model was used to assess the association between parental cardiovascular health status and prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity in the offspring. Results: The prevalence of pediatric overweight and obesity was 22.0% in the father-offspring subset and 23.8% in the mother-offspring subset, respectively. Fathers with ideal BMI, non-smoking, and absence of hypertension and diabetes, and mothers with ideal BMI, ideal physical activity, and absence of hypertension and diabetes were found to be associated with lower prevalence of overweight and obesity in the offspring. The prevalence of offspring overweight and obesity was significantly decreased with the parental iCVH scores increased. Each additional increase in paternal and maternal iCVH factor was associated with a 30% and 27% lower prevalence of overweight and obesity in the offspring. Compared with children whose parental iCVH scores ≤ 3, offspring whose fathers or mothers met all six iCVH factors had 67% [prevalence ratio (PR): 0.33, 95%CI: 0.25-0.42] and 58% (PR: 0.42, 95%CI: 0.29-0.62) lower prevalence of overweight and obesity, respectively. Conclusions: Parental adherence to iCVH status was associated with a lower prevalence of pediatric overweight and obesity in offspring. Our findings support the intervention strategy that parents should involve in the obesity intervention program for children.

Formative Development of a Technology-Based Physical Activity Intervention for Grandparents and Grandchildren

Physical inactivity is a major public health issue among older adults and children. This study presents preliminary results that will inform the development of a technology-based physical activity intervention for grandparents and grandchildren (ages 6-12 years old). The authors used an iterative user-centered design framework to gather quantitative data from grandparents (n = 35) and subsequently invited a subset of 12 of them to engage in qualitative interviews. Participants were 63.1 ± 9.8 years old, 80% female, 64% U.S.-born, 43% Hispanic, 66% single, and 40% <$15K income. The majority of grandparents reported mobile device proficiency, very close relationships with their grandchildren, and interest in participating in an intergenerational intervention. Four key themes related to family closeness, dynamics, routines, and technology informed intervention development. Next steps involved a pilot trial using Fitbits and a fully functioning technology-based prototype. Grandparents are uniquely positioned within their families to serve as agents of change in health-promoting interventions.

'eatNplay' - a rurally-tailored, family-based, telehealth intervention for childhood obesity: Protocol for a mixed-methods randomized newsletter controlled pilot study

BACKGROUND

Childhood obesity disproportionately affects rural communities where access to pediatric weight control services is limited. Telehealth may facilitate access to these services.

OBJECTIVE

This paper describes the rationale, curriculum, and methodology for conducting a randomized controlled pilot trial of a rural, family-based, telehealth intervention that aims to improve weight-related behaviors among children, compared to monthly newsletters.

METHODS

A mixed-methods randomized design will randomly assign 44 rural families with one or more children aged 5 to 11 years identified as overweight or obese to an intervention or newsletter control group. The intervention group will attend 'eatNplay' group videoconferencing telehealth sessions, conducted weekly by a registered nurse and a motivational interviewing expert, to discuss diet, exercise, sleep, and peer group influences. The control group will receive newsletters covering these topics. Outcome measures at baseline, 12, and 26 weeks will assess 1) participant engagement and satisfaction with 'eatNplay'; 2) child's BMI, dietary behavior, physical activity, and sleep behavior; and 3) parent/guardians' self-reported beliefs, behaviors, attitudes, perceived stress, and perceived quality of life. Analyses will employ 1) thematic analysis of semi-structured parent/guardian interviews after follow-up to help refine the intervention (e.g., curriculum), and 2) linear mixed models to compare outcomes between groups pre- and post-intervention and reduce bias from unobserved variables. Results of this pilot study could refine methodology for conducting telehealth studies, acceptability of healthcare provider-involved recruitment, interdisciplinary team approach, and addressing childhood obesity in rural communities through telehealth.

Association of Parental Socioeconomic Status and Physical Activity with Development of Arterial Stiffness in Prepubertal Children

The present study examined the prospective association of parental household income, education level, migration background, and physical activity (PA) behavior with the development of pulse wave velocity (PWV) in prepubertal children. A total of 223 children (initial age 6–8 years) were included in this prospective school-based cohort study from 2014 to 2018. Parental socioeconomic status, migration background, and PA behavior were assessed by the use of questionnaires at both times points. PWV was measured by an oscillometric device at follow-up (2018). No significant association of household income, education level, and parental migration background with PWV in children after four years was found. However, a high level of maternal PA was related to a lower childhood PWV at follow-up (mean (95% CI) 4.6 (4.54–4.66) m/s) compared to children of mothers with a low PA behavior (mean (95% CI) 4.7 (4.64–4.77) m/s) (p = 0.049). Children of mothers with a high PA level revealed a beneficial arterial stiffness after four years. Little evidence for an association of socioeconomic status and migration background with childhood arterial stiffness was found. Increased parental PA seems to support the development of childhood vascular health and should be considered in the generation of future primary prevention strategies of childhood cardiovascular health.

Leveraging Emergent Social Networks to Reduce Sedentary Behavior in Low-Income Parents With Preschool-Aged Children

This study tested the hypothesis that parents participating in a pediatric obesity intervention who formed social network ties with a parent in the intervention arm would engage in more daily physical activity and less sedentary behavior (after controlling for participant covariates). Data were collected at baseline, 12 months, and 36 months from 610 low-income parent-child pairs participating in an obesity prevention intervention for 3- to 5-year-old children. A network survey was used to identify social network ties among parents and accelerometers were used to measure parental physical activity and sedentary time. Longitudinal regression analyses tested effects of social network ties on parents' physical activity and sedentary behavior. Compared with parents without a social network tie, having a tie with an intervention group participant was associated with a clinically meaningful 11.04 min/day decrease in parental sedentary behavior that approached statistical significance (95% confidence interval [Cl] = [-22.71, 0.63], p = .06). Social network ties among parents in a pediatric obesity prevention intervention were not clearly associated with reduced sedentary behavior among those parents at the traditional level of p = .05. The large effect size (over 77min per week improvement) suggests there might be potential importance of promoting new social networks in community-based health promotion interventions to elicit and support behavior change, but further examination is needed.

Associations of Mothers' and Children's Stress With Children's Device-Measured Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Trajectories Across 3 Years

BACKGROUND

Psychological stress has adverse effects on health-related behaviors, yet longitudinal research is lacking. Research examined how children's and mothers' perceived stress are associated with children's physical activity and sedentary behavior trajectories across 3 years.

METHODS

Mothers and their children (N = 186 dyads; 8-12 y at baseline, 57% Hispanic) completed 6 assessments across 3 years. Children and mothers self-reported perceived stress using the Stress in Children Scale and Perceived Stress Scale, respectively. Children's moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary behavior were assessed using accelerometers. Mixed models examined interactions of mothers' and children's perceived stress by time elapsed in the study on children's MVPA and sedentary behavior.

RESULTS

The perceived stress × time elapsed interactions were significant for children's MVPA and sedentary behavior (Ps < .05). Higher average perceived stress in mothers was associated with greater decreases in children's MVPA and increases in children's sedentary behavior. The child stress × time elapsed interactions was significant for children's MVPA (P < .05) but not sedentary behavior. Higher average perceived stress in children was associated with smaller decreases in children's MVPA.

CONCLUSION

Interventions to promote physical activity and reduce screen time in children should mitigate the effects of psychological stress, especially among mothers, on these behaviors.

Barriers to Behavior Change in Parents With Overweight or Obese Children: A Qualitative Interview Study

Overweight and obesity among children and adolescents are global problems of our time. Due to their authority and role modeling, parents play an essential part in the efficacy of prevention and intervention programs. This study assessed the barriers that parents of overweight/obese children face in preventive and interventional health care utilization. Sixteen parents were qualitatively interviewed. A content analysis was performed, and barriers to change were allocated to their stage of change according to the transtheoretical model. Among the main barriers is the underestimation of health risks caused by overweight/obesity in association with diminished problem awareness. Parents seem not necessarily in need of theoretical knowledge for prevention and interventions. They do however need support in evaluating the weight status of their child and the knowledge of whom to turn to for help as well as specific and hands-on possibilities for change. The results extend past studies by adding specific barriers to change that parents commonly experience. Possibilities to address these barriers, e.g., through trainings at the pediatric practice or adoption of conversation techniques, are discussed. Future studies might identify subgroups experiencing specific barriers and thus be able to address these in an individualized way.

Effect of a Parent-Focused eHealth Intervention on Children's Fruit, Vegetable, and Discretionary Food Intake (Food4toddlers): Randomized Controlled Trial

Background

In Western countries, children’s diets are often low in fruits and vegetables and high in discretionary foods. Diet in early life tends to track through childhood and youth and even into adulthood. Interventions should, therefore, be delivered in periods when habitual traits are established, as in toddlerhood when children adapt to their family’s diet.

Objective

In this study, we assessed the effect of the Food4toddlers eHealth intervention, which aimed to enhance toddlers’ diets by shaping their food and eating environment.

Methods

The Food4toddlers randomized controlled trial was conducted in Norway in 2017-2018. Parent-child dyads were recruited through social media. In total, 298 parents completed an online questionnaire at baseline (mean child age 10.9 months, SD 1.2). Postintervention questionnaires were completed immediately after the intervention (ie, follow-up 1; mean child age 17.8 months, SD 1.3) and 6 months after the intervention (ie, follow-up 2; mean child age 24.2 months, SD 1.9). The intervention was guided by social cognitive theory, which targets the linked relationship between the person, the behavior, and the environment. The intervention group (148/298, 49.7%) got access to the Food4toddlers website for 6 months from baseline. The website included information on diet and on how to create a healthy food and eating environment as well as activities, recipes, and collaboration opportunities. To assess intervention effects on child diet from baseline to follow-up 1 and from baseline to follow-up 2, we used generalized estimating equations and a time × group interaction term. Between-group differences in changes over time for frequency and variety of fruits and vegetables and frequency of discretionary foods were assessed.

Results

At follow-up 1, a significant time × group interaction was observed for the frequency of vegetable intake (P=.02). The difference between groups in the change from baseline to follow-up 1 was 0.46 vegetable items per day (95% CI 0.06-0.86) in favor of the intervention group. No other significant between-group differences in dietary changes from baseline to follow-up 1 or follow-up 2 were observed. However, there is a clear time trend showing that the intake of discretionary foods increases by time from less than 1 item per week at baseline to more than 4 items per week at 2 years of age (P<.001), regardless of group.

Conclusions

A positive intervention effect was observed for the frequency of vegetable intake at follow-up 1 but not at follow-up 2. No other between-group effects on diet were observed. eHealth interventions of longer duration, including reminders after the main content of the intervention has been delivered, may be needed to obtain long-terms effects, along with tailoring in a digital or a personal form.

Trial Registration

International Standard Randomized Controlled Trial Number (ISRCTN) 92980420; https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN92980420

Effects of Three Different Family-Based Interventions in Overweight and Obese Children: The "4 Your Family" Randomized Controlled Trial

Childhood overweight and obesity prevalence has risen dramatically in the past decades, and family-based interventions may be an effective method to improve children's eating behaviors. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of three different family-based interventions: group-based, individual-based, or by website approach. Parents and school aged overweight or obese children, 8-12 years of age, were eligible for the study. A total of 115 children were randomly allocated in one of the three interventions, and 91 completed the study (79% compliance); Group 1 (n = 36) received group-based interventions by various experts; Group 2 (n = 30) had interpersonal family meetings with a dietitian; and Group 3 (n = 25) received training through a specifically developed website. Anthropometric, dietary, physical activity, and screen time outcomes were measured at baseline and at the end of the study. Within-group comparisons indicated significant improvement in body weight, body mass index (BMI)-z-score, physical activity, and screen time from baseline in all three study groups (p < 0.05). Furthermore, total body fat percentage (%TBF) was also decreased in Groups 2 and 3. Between-group differences varied with body weight and %TBF change, being larger in Group 3 compared to Groups 1 and 2, in contrast to BMI-z-score, screen time, and health behaviors, which were significantly larger in Group 2 than the other two groups. In conclusion, personalized family-based interventions are recommended to successfully improve children's lifestyle and body weight status.

A positive deviance-based qualitative study of stress, coping, and feeding practices among low-income, Hispanic mothers whose children do versus do not meet guidelines for fruit and vegetable intake

Less than 1% of children in the United States concurrently meet guidelines for fruit/vegetable intake, physical activity, screen time, and sugar-sweetened beverages. Prior evidence suggests that parents of this 1% potentially cope with stress differently. This qualitative study used a positive deviance-based approach to locate mothers whose children avoided negative feeding outcomes despite being 'high-risk' for obesity. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in Spanish for two groups: low-income, Hispanic mothers whose children were normal weight and met recommendations for fruits/vegetables and physical activity (n = 5); and a comparison group whose children had obesity and did not meet guidelines (n = 8). Topics included weight-related parenting practices, attitudes toward health, and stress management. Interviews were transcribed, translated, and coded using NVivo for theoretically driven thematic analysis. Results suggested that mothers viewed stress differently. Mothers of healthy weight children believed stress could be prevented, such as by paying children more attention or directing one's attention away from stressors; comparison group mothers tended to report stress about managing their child's eating and about financial worries. Future research is needed to understand the underlying sources of these differences (e.g. personality traits, coping practices) and test whether stress prevention interventions can promote healthy parental feeding practices.

Using the RE-AIM framework to identify and describe nutritional feeding styles and intervention model best practices for primary caregivers in Africa: A narrative review

BACKGROUND

Current research shows that across the world people are eating poorly. This is leading to increased incidences of nutrition-related health problems.

AIM

This paper aims to provide a synthesis of research on the nutritional feeding programs and nutritional models used by primary caregivers in Africa, in order to identify best practice models, programs, and processes from the field of nutritional and feeding intervention development.

METHODS

The research used a narrative review methodology. The Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework was used to disseminate results to allow for cross-comparison of core components inherent in health promotion interventions. We chose the RE-AIM framework as it facilitates the development, delivery, and evaluation of health interventions.

RESULTS

After screening a total of 8220 articles, four studies were deemed relevant for the purposes of this review. The selected studies were the only ones that discussed nutrition interventions or programs with a very clear aim and purpose, even though they did not include any information on implementation, review or evaluation of these interventions/program. No studies focusing on the African context were deemed relevant as none of them focused on best practice models for nutrition education interventions or programs.

CONCLUSIONS

Of a review of over 8220 articles, four studies were found that discuss nutritional feeding programs and nutritional models used by primary caregivers. Of these four, only one focused on enablers, barriers, and resources, all of which are essential for engaging in health behavior change. And only one focused on sustainability of the interventions.

Youth safety perceptions of weight control behaviors: A moderated mediation study

BACKGROUND

Youth may engage in healthy weight control behaviors (HWCBs) and unhealthy weight control behaviors (UWCBs) to lose or maintain weight. Youth observation of WCBs by supporter groups (parents/siblings/peers) and youth beliefs about the safety of WCBs may impact which WCBs youth use. The primary aim of this study was to examine the mediating role of youth safety perceptions of WCBs on the relationships between supporter group engagement in WCBs and youth engagement in WCBs. Youth BMI-z-score was analyzed as a moderator.

METHODS

Participants were 219 youth (52.1% females), ages 10-17, attending an outpatient medical appointment. Participants completed questionnaires about their WCB use, whether they perceived WCBs as safe/unsafe, and whether they perceived parents, siblings and peers to use WCBs. A standardized formula including youth age, sex, height, and weight was used to calculate BMI-z-score.

RESULTS

A moderated mediation model examining parental and youth engagement in UWCBs revealed that for youth in the healthy to overweight/obese (OV/OB) range, greater safety perception of UWCBs mediated the relationship between higher parent engagement in UWCBs and higher youth engagement in UWCBs. Furthermore, youth safety perception of HWCBs mediated the relationship between perceived parent, sibling, and peer engagement in HWCBs and youth engagement in HWCBs.

CONCLUSION

This study identifies perceived parent, sibling, and peer WCBs and youth safety perceptions as mechanisms affecting youth WCB engagement, particularly for youth in the OV/OB range. Intervention effectiveness may increase if parent, sibling, and peer WCBs are targeted and education about safe/unsafe ways to control weight is provided.

Effects of a Community-Based Pilot Intervention on Home Food Availability among U.S. Households

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of a pilot community-based behavioral intervention on the home food environment in U.S. households. Parents (21 females, 2 males; age = 36 ± 5.5 years; 78% Hispanic) of elementary school-aged children attended a 10-week dietary improvement behavioral intervention targeting an increase in fruit and vegetable consumption and a reduction in sugar intake. Home food availability of fruit, vegetables, and sugar-laden foods and beverages were assessed before and after the intervention using a modified version of the Home Food Inventory. Relative to baseline, the intervention resulted in significant increases in fruit availability (7.7 ± 3.2 items vs. 9.4 ± 3.1 items; p = 0.004) and low sugar cereal (2.3 ± 1.4 types vs. 2.7 ± 1.4 types; p = 0.033). There was a significant reduction in sugar-sweetened beverage availability (3.2 ± 1.9 types vs. 1.7 ± 1.3 types; p = 0.004). There was a significant increase in the number of households with accessible ready-to-eat vegetables and fruit, and a significant reduction in available prepared desserts, and candy (p < 0.01). There were no significant changes in the availability of vegetables and sugar-laden cereals. The current intervention resulted in positive changes in the home food environment. Further research to confirm these results in a randomized controlled trial is warranted.

An autonomic nervous system context of harsh parenting and youth aggression versus delinquency

Harsh parenting is a significant predictor of youth aggression and delinquency. However, not every child exposed to adverse parenting develops such problem behaviors. Recent developmental evolutionary models suggest that variability in stress response reactivity to parenting, reflected by autonomic nervous system (ANS) functioning, may affect the impact of adverse parenting on youth behavioral adjustment. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the parasympathetic and sympathetic branches of the ANS moderate the association between parenting and aggressive and delinquent behaviors. The study sample included low-income, ethnically diverse preadolescents (M = 10.28 years old; N = 101) and their caregivers. Direct effects were found from basal RSA to delinquent behaviors. In addition, harsh parenting predicted increased youths' aggressive and delinquent behaviors in the context of high RSA withdrawal and increased youths' delinquent behaviors in the context of shortened basal PEP. Implications for prevention and intervention are discussed.

Positive parenting approaches and their association with child eating and weight: A narrative review from infancy to adolescence

Parents play a critical role in the development of children's eating behaviours and weight status, serving as providers, models and regulators of the food environment. Many research reviews have focused on the robust body of evidence on coercive control in feeding: how parenting practices such as restriction and pressure to eat increase children's risk for developing undesirable eating behaviours and unhealthy weight outcomes. Fewer reviews adopt a strengths-based perspective focusing on the ways that parents can actively support the development of healthy eating behaviours and weight trajectories. Emerging research on such positive parenting styles and practices offers solutions beyond the avoidance of coercive control, as well as opportunities to highlight parallels between research on food parenting and the broader, well-established developmental literature on positive parenting. The focus of this review is to summarize what is known regarding benefits of positive parenting styles and practices for child eating and weight outcomes and discuss recommendations for future research. Current evidence supports starting with responsive feeding and parenting during infancy and incorporating structure and limit setting in early childhood, with monitoring and mealtime structure remaining important during middle childhood and adolescence. Areas for future research include: (1) further examination of the implications of identified food parenting practices and styles among diverse groups and caregivers; (2) increased consideration of child factors (eg, temperament) as moderators or mediators; and (3) further clarification of the relationship between general parenting and food parenting.

Cultural adaptation of an existing children's weight management programme: the CHANGE intervention and feasibility RCT

BACKGROUND

Excess weight in children is a continuing health issue. Community-based children's weight management programmes have had some effect in promoting weight loss. Families from minority ethnic communities are less likely to complete these programmes but, to date, no programmes have been culturally adapted to address this.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to (1) culturally adapt an existing weight management programme for children aged 4-11 years and their families to make it more suited to Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities but inclusive of all families and (2) evaluate the adapted programme to assess its feasibility and acceptability, as well as the feasibility of methods, for a future full-scale trial.

DESIGN

In phase I, a cultural adaptation of a programme that was informed by formative research and guided by two theoretical frameworks was undertaken and in phase II this adapted programme was delivered in a cluster-randomised feasibility study (for which the clusters were the standard and adapted children's weight management programmes).

SETTING

Birmingham: a large, ethnically diverse UK city.

PARTICIPANTS

In phase I, Pakistani and Bangladeshi parents of children with excess weight, and, in phase II, children aged 4-11 years who have excess weight and their families.

INTERVENTIONS

A culturally adapted children's weight management programme, comprising six sessions, which was delivered to children and parents, targeting diet and physical activity and incorporating behaviour change techniques, was developed in phase I and delivered in the intervention arm to 16 groups in phase II. The eight groups in the comparator arm received the standard (unadapted) children's weight management programme.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome was the proportion of Pakistani and Bangladeshi families completing (attending ≥ 60% of) the adapted programme. Secondary outcomes included the proportion of all families completing the adapted programme, the feasibility of delivery of the programme, the programme's acceptability to participants, the feasibility of trial processes and the feasibility of collection of outcome and cost data.

RESULTS

The proportion of Pakistani and Bangladeshi families and all families completing the adapted programme was 78.8% [95% confidence interval (CI) 64.8% to 88.2%] and 76.3% (95% CI 67.0% to 83.6%), respectively. The programme was feasible to deliver with some refinements and was well received. Ninety-two families participated in outcome data collection. Data collection was mostly feasible, but participant burden was high. Data collection on the cost of programme delivery was feasible, but costs to families were more challenging to capture. There was high attrition over the 6-month follow-up period (35%) and differential attrition in the two study arms (29% and 52% in the intervention and comparator arms, respectively).

LIMITATIONS

The study was not designed to address the issue of low participant uptake of children's weight management programmes. The design of a future trial may include individual randomisation and a 'minimal intervention' arm, the acceptability of which has not been evaluated in this study.

CONCLUSIONS

The theoretically informed, culturally adapted children's weight management programme was highly acceptable to children and families of all ethnicities. Consideration should be given to a future trial to evaluate clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the adapted programme, but the design of a future trial would need to address the logistics of data collection, participant burden and study attrition.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN81798055.

FUNDING

This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 23, No. 33. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information. Kate Jolly is part-funded by the Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care West Midlands.

Parent Involvement in Adolescent Obesity Treatment: A Systematic Review

CONTEXT

Family-based lifestyle interventions are recommended for adolescent obesity treatment, yet the optimal role of parents in treatment is unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To examine systematically the evidence from prospective randomized controlled and/or clinical trials (RCTs) to identify how parents have been involved in adolescent obesity treatment and to identify the optimal type of parental involvement to improve adolescent weight outcomes.

DATA SOURCES

Data sources included PubMed, PsychINFO, and Medline (inception to July 2019).

STUDY SELECTION

RCTs evaluating adolescent (12-18 years of age) obesity treatment interventions that included parents were reviewed. Studies had to include a weight-related primary outcome (BMI and BMI z score).

DATA EXTRACTION

Eligible studies were identified and reviewed, following the Preferred Reporting for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Study quality and risk of bias were evaluated by using the Cochrane Collaboration risk of bias tool.

RESULTS

This search identified 32 studies, of which 23 were unique RCTs. Only 5 trials experimentally manipulated the role of parents. There was diversity in the treatment target (parent, adolescent, or both) and format (group sessions, separate sessions, or mixed) of the behavioral weight loss interventions. Many studies lacked detail and/or assessments of parent-related behavioral strategies. In ∼40% of unique trials, no parent-related outcomes were reported, whereas parent weight was reported in 26% and associations between parent and adolescent weight change were examined in 17%.

LIMITATIONS

Only RCTs published in English in peer-reviewed journals were eligible for inclusion.

CONCLUSIONS

Further research, with detailed reporting, is needed to inform clinical guidelines related to optimizing the role of parents in adolescent obesity treatment.

Distinguishing factors that influence attendance and behaviour change in family-based treatment of childhood obesity: A qualitative study

OBJECTIVES

For the effective treatment of childhood obesity, intervention attendance and behaviour change at home are both important. The purpose of this study was to qualitatively explore influences on attendance and behaviour change during a family-based intervention to treat childhood obesity in the North West of England (Getting Our Active Lifestyles Started (GOALS)).

DESIGN

Focus groups with children and parents/carers as part of a broader mixed-methods evaluation.

METHODS

Eighteen focus groups were conducted with children (n = 39, 19 boys) and parents/carers (n = 34, 5 male) to explore their experiences of GOALS after 6 weeks of attendance (/18 weeks). Data were analysed thematically to identify influences on attendance and behaviour change.

RESULTS

Initial attendance came about through targeted referral (from health care professionals and letters in school) and was influenced by motivations for a brighter future. Once at GOALS, it was the fun, non-judgemental healthy lifestyle approach that encouraged continued attendance. Factors that facilitated behaviour change included participatory learning as a family, being accountable and gradual realistic goal setting, whilst challenges focussed on fears about the intervention ending and a lack of support from non-attending significant others.

CONCLUSIONS

Factors that influence attendance and behaviour change are distinct and may be important at different stages of the family's change process. Practitioners are encouraged to tailor strategies to support both attendance and behaviour change, with a focus on whole family participation within and outside the intervention.

A set of pedagogical recommendations for improving the integrated approach to childhood overweight and obesity: A Delphi study

Background

Tackling the increasing global problem of childhood overweight and obesity requires an integrated approach. Studies increasingly emphasize the importance of the parents’ role in interventions designed to prevent overweight in children. The aim of this study was to develop a unified set of recommendations for healthy parenting practices that can be applied by all professionals who work with children age 4–13 years and can contribute to strengthening the integrated approach to childhood overweight.

Methods

A modified Delphi procedure was used to reach consensus regarding what these pedagogical recommendations should encompass. The 30 panelists were professionals and researchers who work with children age 4–13 in the domains of health care, overweight, parenting, education, nutrition, and/or sports. The procedure consisted of: i) extracting existing pedagogical recommendations from national guidelines and professional protocols, ii) appraising and prioritizing these recommendations in terms of relevance through two rounds of questionnaires, and iii) meeting to discuss and approve the set of recommendations.

Results

Consensus was reached for one set of eleven pedagogical theme-based recommendations designed to support and instruct parents how to stimulate healthy energy balance‒related behaviors in their child. Each recommendation contained information regarding: i) which behaviors in the child and/or parent are important, ii) why this is important, and iii) how parents can stimulate this behavior by applying parenting skills in daily life. The eleven themes were: modeling, positive parenting, breakfast, varied diet, sugar-sweetened beverages, snacks, physical activity, playing sports, quantity of screen time, screen time during meals, and sleep.

Conclusion

We developed a set of recommendations for healthy parenting that can be used by various professionals working with children age 4–13 and can contribute to creating an integrated approach to childhood overweight. We also developed a web-based app called “Recommendations for Healthy Parenting” as a convenient tool for following these recommendations.

Methods and rationale to assess the efficacy of a parenting intervention targeting diet improvement and substance use prevention among Latinx adolescents

Latinx adolescents are at higher risk for chronic diseases relative to adolescents of other ethnic groups, in part because of their lack of adherence to diet recommendations and their higher rates of substance use. Given the proximal influence of family factors during the developmental stage of adolescence, parenting interventions may be an effective way to promote healthy nutrition and substance use prevention simultaneously. This article describes the design and theoretical rationale of a study assessing the effects of Families Preparing the New Generation Plus (FPNG Plus), a 10-week culturally-tailored nutrition and substance use prevention parenting program, on diet and substance use outcomes among Latinx middle school students (6th-8th grade). The 3-arm cluster randomized controlled trial compares FPNG Plus (substance use prevention and healthy nutrition), FPNG (substance use prevention only), and a comparison condition (focusing on academic success) in 1494 parent-child dyads from 18 schools, randomized at the school level. Adolescents and parents will complete surveys pre- and post-intervention, and 16-weeks after program participation, regarding diet behaviors, substance use, and parenting practices. A random subsample of 126 dyads (42 from each program), will participate in additional data collection to assess the home food environment, detailed dietary intake (via two 24-h recalls), and provide biomarkers of cardiometabolic risk (blood pressure, total cholesterol and HbA1c). If successful, this study will provide evidence contributing to helping Latinx parents assist their adolescent children develop and maintain long-lasting positive lifestyle behaviors in order to prevent concurrent substance use and diet-related chronic diseases.

CHECK: A randomized trial evaluating the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of home visitation in pediatric weight loss treatment

BACKGROUND

Socioeconomically-disadvantaged households have a high prevalence of pediatric overweight/obesity, and also face barriers to accessing weight loss treatment in healthcare settings. Delivering family-based pediatric weight loss treatment in the home setting may enhance its efficacy by facilitating treatment attendance, enabling more tailored treatment recommendations informed by observations of the home environment, and increasing accountability. This paper describes the design of the Creating Health Environments for Chicago Kids (CHECK) Trial, which evaluates the efficacy, cost-effectiveness, and mechanisms of home visitation in family-based pediatric weight loss treatment for children in low-income households.

DESIGN

CHECK is a two-arm, parallel group, randomized controlled trial that is enrolling N = 266 children, ages 6-12 y, who have overweight/obesity (BMI percentile ≥85) and live in a low-income household. Participants are randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either standard of care family-based weight loss treatment delivered in the home, or the identical intervention delivered in an academic medical center. The primary outcome is change in child BMI z-score from baseline to 12 months. Program delivery costs are rigorously documented to enable cost-effectiveness analyses from the societal and payer perspectives. Objectively-documented changes to the home environment and aspects of intervention delivery (e.g., hours of in-person contact received, quantity of behavioral goals set per session) will be tested as hypothesized treatment mechanisms.

IMPLICATIONS

Findings will inform the design of future interventions, and treatment dissemination decisions by public health agencies and third-party payers.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03195790.

Early Lifestyle Intervention for Obesity Prevention in Pediatric Survivors of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Patients with pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) experience rapid weight gain during treatment and increases in weight are maintained throughout treatment and beyond. Without prompt interventions, altered dietary and physical activity behaviors may become difficult to reverse, contributing to obesity risk long-term. Fifteen children, aged 3–9 years, diagnosed with pediatric ALL who were on maintenance therapy or within two years of treatment completion (mean BMI percentile: 70.4^th) and one parent from each family, were enrolled into a 12-week lifestyle intervention delivered remotely through web-based sessions and phone calls with a lifestyle coach. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and end of the intervention. Thirteen of the 15 enrolled families (86.7%) completed the intervention. Parents reduced the “pressure to eat” feeding practice (change in mean score: −0.60, 95% CI: −1.12 to −0.07; p-value = 0.03) post intervention. Children increased the consumption of milk (0.54 serving/d, 0.02 to 1.07; p-value = 0.04) and percent of calories from protein (2.54%, 0.22 to 4.87%; p-value = 0.04) and reduced the consumption of potatoes (−0.16 serving/d, -0.30 to −0.03; p-value = 0.02). No significant changes were observed for children’s levels of physical activity, BMI, or waist circumference. Results from this pilot support the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of early lifestyle intervention among pediatric ALL survivors.

Targeting parental motivation for change in childhood obesity: development and validation of the PURICA-S scale

BACKGROUND

The high prevalence of overweight and obesity in childhood and adolescence call for effective and sustainable intervention strategies. Parental motivation for change may be a key factor in sustained behavioral improvement towards a healthy weight status of their offspring. In this study, we developed a new short instrument to assess parental motivation for change to facilitate motivation-tailored family interventions that promise improved effectiveness.

METHODS

The preexisting gold-standard instrument to assess motivational stages for change was adapted from the self to the parental perspective in a structured multistep Delphi procedure. The new instrument to assess parental motivation for change related to a health problem of their children was psychometrically evaluated in a sample (N = 193) of parents of children or adolescents with overweight or obesity. Confirmatory factor analysis, internal consistency, construct, and criteria validity were analyzed to test the psychometric properties of the new instrument.

RESULTS

As a result of the Delphi procedures, all 16 items were successfully transferred to the parental perspective. The hypothesized four-factor structure of the new instrument was approved, and internal consistency and criteria validity were good to very good (albeit with inconsistent findings for the subscale precontemplation).

DISCUSSION

In our investigated target group of parents with children with overweight or obesity, the new instrument to assess parental motivation for change proved to be a practicable, valid, and time-efficient short measure. The new instrument will enable more specific motivational stage-directed interventions that promise higher effectiveness of family-based interventions to fight childhood obesity. However, the subscale precontemplation seemed not fully suitable for the population investigated here and needs to be applied very carefully in future studies.

Engaging Children to Support Parental Weight Loss: A Randomized Trial

Background. Despite evidence that social network members influence the eating behaviors of adults, no study to date has had the primary aim of examining children as support partners for parents in a weight loss intervention. Aim. To evaluate parent adherence with eating/exercise goals and weight loss in a 6-month study engaging children as support partners. Method. Adults with obesity (body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m², n = 102) and at least one child ≥12 years were randomized to a child support or control group. In the child support group, children enrolled with their parent and engaged in a supportive behavior 2 days/week. In the control group, there was no enrolled child support. Parents in both groups selected a healthy eating strategy and daily step goal. Results. There was no difference in weight loss between the child support and control groups (-5.97 vs. -5.42 lbs, p = .81). In the child support group, 30% of children did not engage in the study. The majority of parents whose children did not engage withdrew from the study. In secondary analyses, parent adherence with eating/exercise goals increased with the days of child support (p < .001). For all participants, low chaos in the home environment (p < .04) and increased parent adherence with follow-ups (p < .008) predicted weight loss. Conclusions. We found no treatment effect of child support on weight loss. Active child support of eating/exercise goals appeared to facilitate goal adherence, while anticipated but unrealized child support may have had iatrogenic consequences. Further investigation of family-focused weight loss interventions is warranted.

Participants' Perceptions of "C.H.A.M.P. Families": A Parent-Focused Intervention Targeting Paediatric Overweight and Obesity

Background: Recently, our team implemented a 13-week group-based intervention for parents of children with obesity ("C.H.A.M.P. Families"). The primary objective of this study was to explore, qualitatively, parents' perspectives of their experiences in and influence of C.H.A.M.P. Families, as well as their recommendations for future paediatric obesity treatment interventions. Methods: Twelve parents (seven mothers, five fathers/step-fathers) representing seven children (four girls, three boys) with obesity participated in one of two focus groups following the intervention. Focus groups were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim and data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: Findings showed that parents perceived their participation in C.H.A.M.P. Families to be a positive experience. Participants highlighted several positive health-related outcomes for children, families, and parents. Parents also underscored the importance and positive impact of the group environment, specific educational content, and additional program components such as free child-minding. Recommendations for future interventions were also provided, including greater child involvement and more practical strategies. Finally, parents identified several barriers including socioenvironmental issues, time constraints, and parenting challenges. Conclusions: Researchers developing family-based childhood obesity interventions should consider the balance of parent and child involvement, as well as emphasize group dynamics strategies and positive family communication.

Guest Perceptions of Physical Activity Point-of-Decision Prompts at a Conservatory with Botanical Gardens

Point-of-decision prompts are cost-effective strategies to promote physical activity in public spaces. This study explored how adult and child guests of a conservatory with botanical gardens perceived point-of-decision prompts that aimed to promote physical activity. Seven point-of-decision prompts were developed and displayed throughout the conservatory. Adult guests (n = 140) were invited to complete a voluntary and anonymous survey to assess awareness of point-of-decision prompts, adult-child interactions, and physical activity engagement. Descriptive statistics were calculated using SPSS version 23. Sixty-one percent of guests (n = 86) who responded to the survey noticed the point-of-decision prompts. Over 65% (n = 56) of those guests completed at least one of the physical activities, and 53% (n = 46) completed one to three. Of guests attending with (a) child(ren) (n = 17) who completed the survey, over half (n = 9) engaged in at least one physical activity together. In sum, the point-of-decision prompts were noticed by some guests in this public space. More research is needed to determine whether point-of-decision prompts are able to lead to sustainable behavior change.

Everyday life situations in which mothers experience difficulty stimulating healthy energy balance-related behavior in their school-age children: a focus group study

BACKGROUND

Parental support is an important element in overweight prevention programs for children. The purpose of this study was to examine everyday life situations in which mothers encounter difficulties encouraging healthy energy balance-related behavior in their school-age children.

METHODS

We formed four focus groups containing 6-9 participants each. The participants were mothers of Dutch, Turkish, or Moroccan descent with a child 8-13 years of age. All focus group sessions were recorded, transcribed, and coded. Content was analyzed conventionally using ATLAS.ti 6.

RESULTS

Twenty-seven difficult everyday life situations were identified in 14 settings. The five most frequently reported situations were a daily struggle regarding eating vegetables, eating breakfast on time before going to school, eating candy and snacks between meals, and spending excessive time watching television and using the computer. A perceived loss of parental control, the inability to establish rules and the failure to consistently enforce those rules were the most commonly cited reasons for why the mothers experience these situations as being difficult.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified five difficult everyday life situations related to healthy energy balance-related behavior. These five difficult situations were used as the input for developing a web-based parenting program designed to prevent children from becoming overweight. We reasoned that if we use these situations and the underlying reasons, many parents would recognize these situations and are willing to learn how to deal with them and complete the e-learning.