Promoting The Self-Regulation Of Energy Intake

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The goal of this study is to develop and test the efficacy of a scientifically-based, culturally competent seven-session parent directed, obesity prevention program focused on parental feeding strategies that support young children's self-regulation of intake.

Detailed Description
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The intervention program was developed and piloted. Expected outcomes: At the end of the intervention program, it is expected that parents in the intervention group will: 1) use more child-centered (e.g., repeated presentation of new foods, involvement in food preparation) and less parent-centered feeding directives; 2) be less likely to show an indulgent and more likely to show an authoritative feeding style (feeding responsiveness); 3) show lower scores on restriction and pressure to eat and higher scores on monitoring; and 4) demonstrate higher levels of food knowledge (e.g., best feeding practices, reduced feeding misconceptions). Children in the intervention group are expected to: 1) show more willingness to try new foods, and 2) show increased self-regulation of energy intake. At the end of the interventions, children are expected to show greater consumption of fruits and vegetables (including consuming a wider variety of fruits and vegetables). All effects are expected to continue through the 6- and 12-month follow-ups, although the effects sizes will diminish. Although we do not expect effects on BMI after 6 weeks, we expect to see decreases in children's BMI percentiles by the 6- and 12-month follow-ups for the intervention group-especially for the top 25% of the BMI percentile range. No parental BMI effects are expected.

Official Title
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Promoting The Self-Regulation Of Energy Intake In Latino Preschoolers: A Family Focused Obesity Prevention Program

Conditions
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Obesity

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Parent and child groups focused on self-regulation of eating


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Parents whose children attend Head Start with the sample of children equally split on gender and ethnicity, with representation from ages 3 to 6 years. Exclusion Criteria: Parents and children who have any kind of food allergies or diabetes or are on special diets will be excluded from the study.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 3 Years
Maximum Age: 6 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Parent and child classes (prevention group)<br>Parent and child groups focused on self-regulation of eating | Behavioral: Parent and child groups focused on self-regulation of eating<br> <br> |
| No Intervention: Treatment as usual (control group)<br>Treatment as usual | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Children's BMI Percentiles | Measured child height and weight data were collected. Two height and weight measures were averaged for each child. Age- and gender-specific BMI z-scores for each child were calculated. Children were classified into healthy weight (5th to <85th percentile), overweight (≥85th to <95th percentile), and obese (≥95th percentile) according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention standards. | 12-month follow-up | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Parental Feeding Behaviors | Questionnaire data (parent-report). Subscale scores from the Food Parenting Inventory and Feeding Knowledge Questionnaire were used to measure secondary outcomes. All scales included response categories ranging from 1 to 5. Higher scores were considered better on the following subscales: repeated presentation of new foods; measured child portion sizes; child involvement in food preparation; feeding responsiveness; knowledge of best feeding practices; feeding efficacy. Lower scores were considered better on the subscale of feeding misconceptions. | 12-month follow-up |