PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:~I. Establish the feasibility and acceptability of the Parent and Family obesity interventions.~SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:~I. Explore congregational and community interest in obesity and obesity related behaviors in racial ethnic minorities.~II. Explore the preliminary impact of the Parent and Family interventions on behavioral, social and environmental outcomes in parent/child dyads. III. Explore potential mediators (self-efficacy, perceived stress, depressive symptoms) and moderators (sex of dyads, family history of lifestyle changes, and church attendance).~OUTLINE: Churches are randomized to 1 of 3 arms.~ARM I (PARENT INTERVENTION): Parents receive health coaching sessions over 50-60 minutes monthly for 6 months. Parents also receive navigation sessions with a lay health worker (LHW) monthly for 6 months and church-based peer support monthly for 6 months.~ARM II (FAMILY INTERVENTION): Family members receive health coaching sessions over 50-60 minutes monthly for 6 months. Family members also receive navigation sessions with a LHW monthly for 6 months and church-based peer support monthly for 6 months.~ARM III (DELAYED COMPARISON): Participants receive a handbook that includes core content from the parent and family interventions, but without individual support from coaches, LHWs or the church.
This clinical trial compares the effects of parent/caregiver-focused programs to family-focused programs in reducing obesity risk in racial ethnic minority families. Obesity tends to run in families, thus family-based interventions have been strongly recommended. Parent and family obesity programs may reduce obesity risk and ultimately reduce the risk of obesity-related cancer.