Kirsten K. Davison|Janine M. Jurkowski|Kaigang Li|Sibylle Kranz|Hal A. Lawson
A childhood obesity intervention developed by families for families: results from a pilot study
Harvard University|University at Albany, State University of New York|Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development|Purdue University West Lafayette|University at Albany, State University of New York
ineffective family interventions prevention childhood obesity part attributed challenges reaching engaging parents particular focus parent engagement study utilized communitybased participatory research develop pilot test familycentered intervention lowincome families preschoolaged children enrolled head startduring year 1 20092010 parents played active equal role research team planning conducting community assessment using results design familycentered childhood obesity intervention year 2 20102011 parents played leading role implementing intervention worked research team evaluate results using prepost cohort design intervention components included 1 revisions letters sent home families reporting child body mass index bmi 2 communication campaign raise parents awareness childs weight status 3 integration nutrition counseling head start family engagement activities 4 6week parentled program strengthen parents communication skills conflict resolution resourcerelated empowerment healthy lifestyles social networks media literacy total 423 children ages 25 years five head start centers upstate new york families exposed intervention 154 families participated evaluation child outcome measures included bmi zscore accelerometerassessed physical activity dietary intake assessed using 24hour recall parent outcomes included food physical activity mediarelated parenting practices attitudescompared pre intervention children post intervention exhibited significant improvements rate obesity light physical activity daily tv viewing dietary intake energy macronutrient intake trends observed bmi zscore sedentary activity moderate activity parents post intervention reported significantly greater selfefficacy promote healthy eating children increased support childrens physical activity dose effects observed outcomesempowering parents play equal role intervention design implementation promising approach familycentered obesity prevention merits testing larger trial rigorous research design