Effectiveness of a family-, school- and community-based intervention on physical activity and its correlates in Belgian families with an increased risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus: the Feel4Diabetes-study
Authors: Huys Nele , Van Stappen Vicky , Shadid Samyah , De Craemer Marieke , Androutsos Odysseas , Wikström Katja , Makrilakis Konstantinos , Moreno Luis A. , Iotova Violeta , Tankova Tsvetalina , Nánási Anna , Manios Yannis , Cardon Greet ,   on behalf of the Feel4Diabetes-study group, Manios Yannis , Kontogianni Meropi , Androutsos Odysseas , Moschonis George , Tsoutsoulopoulou Konstantina , Mavrogianni Christina , Katsarou Christina , Karaglani Eva , Efstathopoulou Eirini , Kechribari Ioanna , Maragkopoulou Konstantina , Argyri Effie , Douligeris Athanasios , Nikolaou Mary , Vampouli Eleni-Anna , Kouroupaki Katerina , Koutsi Roula , Tzormpatzaki Elina , Manou Eirini , Mpinou Panagiota , Karachaliou Alexandra , Filippou Christina , Filippou Amalia , Lindström Jaana , Laatikainen Tiina , Wikström Katja , Nelimarkka Karoliina , Kivelä Jemina , Valve Päivi , Cardon Greet , Latomme Julie , Van Stappen Vicky , Huys Nele , Annemans Lieven , Pil Lore , Schwarz Peter , Panchyrz Ivonne , Holland Maxi , Timpel Patrick , Makrilakis Konstantinos , Liatis Stavros , Dafoulas George , Lambrinou Christina-Paulina , Giannopoulou Angeliki , Tsirigoti Lydia , Fappa Evi , Anastasiou Costas , Zachari Konstantina , Rabemananjara Lala , Kakoulis Dimitrios , Mandalia Mayur , de Sabata Maria Stella , Pall Niti , Moreno Luis , Civeira Fernando , Bueno Gloria , De Miguel-Etayo Pilar , Gonzalez-Gil Esther Ma , Mesana Maria I. , Vicente-Rodriguez Germán , Rodriguez Gerardo , Baila-Rueda Lucia , Cenarro Ana , Jarauta Estíbaliz , Mateo-Gallego Rocío , Iotova Violeta , Tankova Tsvetalina , Usheva Natalia , Tsochev Kaloyan , Chakarova Nevena , Galcheva Sonya , Dimova Rumyana , Bocheva Yana , Radkova Zhaneta , Marinova Vanya , Rurik Imre , Ungvari Timea , Jancsó Zoltán , Nánási Anna , Kolozsvári László , Martinez Remberto , Tong Marcos , Joutsenniemi Kaisla , Wendel-Mitoraj Katrina 
Published: August 2020

Background

The study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of the European Feel4Diabetes intervention, promoting a healthy lifestyle, on physical activity and its correlates among families at risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus (based on the Finnish Diabetes Risk Score) in Belgium.

Methods

The Feel4Diabetes intervention involved three components: family, school and community component, with the family component consisting of 6 counseling sessions for families at risk. Main outcomes were objectively measured physical activity levels and its subjectively measured correlates. The final sample consisted of 454 parents (mean age 39.4 years; 72.0% women) and 444 children (mean age 8.0 years; 50.1% girls). Multilevel repeated measures analyses were performed to assess intervention effectiveness after 1 year.

Results

In parents, there was no significant intervention effect. In children, there were only significant negative effects for moderate to vigorous physical activity (p = 0.05; ηp2 = 0.008) and steps (p = 0.03; ηp2 = 0.006%) on weekdays, with physical activity decreasing (more) in the intervention group.

Conclusions

The F4D-intervention lacks effectiveness on high-risk families’ physical activity and its correlates in Belgium. This could partially be explained by low attendance rates and a large drop-out. To reach vulnerable populations, future interventions should invest in more appropriate recruitment (e.g. more face-to-face contact) and more bottom-up development of the intervention (i.e. co-creation of the intervention with the target group).

Trial registration

The Feel4Diabetes-study was prospectively registered at clinicaltrials.gov asNCT02393872on 20 March 2015.