Heather Kitzman-Ulrich

The integration of a family systems approach for understanding youth obesity, physical activity, and dietary programs.

Rates of overweight in youth have reached epidemic proportions and are associated with adverse health outcomes. Family-based programs have been widely used to treat overweight in youth. However, few programs incorporate a theoretical framework for studying a family systems approach in relation to youth health behavior change. Therefore, this review provides a family systems theory framework for evaluating family-level variables in weight loss, physical activity, and dietary approaches in youth. Studies were reviewed and effect sizes were calculated for interventions that manipulated the family system, including components that targeted parenting styles, parenting skills, or family functioning, or which had novel approaches for including the family. Twenty-one weight loss interventions were identified, and 25 interventions related to physical activity and/or diet were identified. Overall, family-based treatment programs that incorporated training for authoritative parenting styles, parenting skills, or child management, and family functioning had positive effects on youth weight loss. Programs to improve physical activity and dietary behaviors that targeted the family system also demonstrated improvements in youth health behaviors; however, direct effects of parent-targeted programming is not clear. Both treatment and prevention programs would benefit from evaluating family functioning and parenting styles as possible mediators of intervention outcomes. Recommendations are provided to guide the development of future family-based obesity prevention and treatment programs for youth.

An overview of the Positive Action for Today's Health (PATH) trial for increasing walking in low income, ethnic minority communities

BACKGROUND Ethnic minorities and lower-income adults have among the highest rates of obesity and lowest levels of regular physical activity (PA). The Positive Action for Todays Health (PATH) trial compares three communities that are randomly assigned to different levels of an environmental intervention to improve safety and access for walking in low income communities. DESIGN AND SETTING Three communities matched on census tract information (crime, PA, ethnic minorities, and income) were randomized to receive either: an intervention that combines a police-patrolled-walking program with social marketing strategies to promote PA, a police-patrolled-walking only intervention, or no-walking intervention (general health education only). Measures include PA (7-day accelerometer estimates), body composition, blood pressure, psychosocial measures, and perceptions of safety and access for PA at baseline, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. INTERVENTION The police-patrolled walking plus social marketing intervention targets increasing safety (training community leaders as walking captains, hiring off-duty police officers to patrol the walking trail, and containing stray dogs), increasing access for PA (marking a walking route), and utilizes a social marketing campaign that targets psychosocial and environmental mediators for increasing PA. MAIN HYPOTHESES/OUTCOMES: It is hypothesized that the police-patrolled walking plus social marketing intervention will result in greater increases in moderate-to-vigorous PA as compared to the police-patrolled-walking only or the general health intervention after 12 months and that this effect will be maintained at 18 and 24 months. CONCLUSIONS Implications of this community-based trial are discussed.

Computerized self-monitoring and technology-assisted feedback for weight loss with and without an enhanced behavioral component

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a 12-week weight management intervention involving computerized self-monitoring and technology-assisted feedback with and without an enhanced behavioral component. METHODS 120 overweight (30.5±2.6kg/m(2)) adults (45.0±10.3 years) were randomized to one of three groups: computerized self-monitoring with Basic feedback (n=45), Enhanced behavioral feedback (n=45), or wait-list control (n=30). Intervention participants used a computer software program to record dietary and physical activity information. Weekly e-mail feedback was based on computer-generated reports, and participants attended monthly measurement visits. RESULTS The Basic and Enhanced groups experienced significant weight reduction (-2.7±3.3kg and -2.5±3.1kg) in comparison to the Control group (0.3±2.2; p<0.05). Waist circumference and systolic blood pressure also decreased in intervention groups compared to Control (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS A program using computerized self-monitoring, technology-assisted feedback, and monthly measurement visits produced significant weight loss after 12 weeks. However, the addition of an enhanced behavioral component did not improve the effectiveness of the program. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS This study suggests that healthcare professionals can effectively deliver a weight management intervention using technology-assisted strategies in a format that may complement and reduce face-to-face sessions.

An overview of the Families Improving Together (FIT) for weight loss randomized controlled trial in African American families

BACKGROUND The Families Improving Together (FIT) randomized controlled trial tests the efficacy of integrating cultural tailoring, positive parenting, and motivational strategies into a comprehensive curriculum for weight loss in African American adolescents. The overall goal of the FIT trial is to test the effects of an integrated intervention curriculum and the added effects of a tailored web-based intervention on reducing z-BMI in overweight African American adolescents. DESIGN AND SETTING The FIT trial is a randomized group cohort design the will involve 520 African American families with an overweight adolescent between the ages of 11-16 years. The trial tests the efficacy of an 8-week face-to-face group randomized program comparing M + FWL (Motivational Plus Family Weight Loss) to a comprehensive health education program (CHE) and re-randomizes participants to either an 8-week on-line tailored intervention or control on-line program resulting in a 2 (M + FWL vs. CHE group) × 2 (on-line intervention vs. control on-line program) factorial design to test the effects of the intervention on reducing z-BMI at post-treatment and at 6-month follow-up. INTERVENTION The interventions for this trial are based on a theoretical framework that is novel and integrates elements from cultural tailoring, Family Systems Theory, Self-Determination Theory and Social Cognitive Theory. The intervention targets positive parenting skills (parenting style, monitoring, communication); cultural values; teaching parents to increase youth motivation by encouraging youth to have input and choice (autonomy-support); and provides a framework for building skills and self-efficacy through developing weight loss action plans that target goal setting, monitoring, and positive feedback.

Effects of Parenting Style and Parent-Related Weight and Diet on Adolescent Weight Status

OBJECTIVE This study examined the interaction between parental limit setting of sedentary behaviors and health factors (weight status, physical activity [PA], fruit and vegetable [FV] intake) on standardized body mass index (zBMI) in African American adolescents. METHODS Data were from 67 parent-adolescent dyads. Parental limit setting, PA and FV intake were assessed via self-report, and objective height and weight measurements were collected. RESULTS Regressions examined the interaction between parental limit setting and BMI, PA, FV intake on adolescent zBMI. The model for parent BMI and FV intake accounted for 31% of the variance in adolescent zBMI. A significant interaction for parent BMI by limit setting showed that as parental BMI increased, higher (vs. lower) limit setting was associated with lower adolescent zBMI. Higher parent FV consumption was associated with lower adolescent zBMI. CONCLUSION Future interventions should integrate parent limit setting and target parent fruit and vegetable intake for obesity prevention in underserved adolescents.

The effects of a community-based partnership, Project Access Dallas (PAD), on emergency department utilization and costs among the uninsured

BACKGROUND Approximately 19% of non-elderly adults are without health insurance. The uninsured frequently lack a source of primary care and are more likely to use the emergency department (ED) for routine care. Improving access to primary care for the uninsured is one strategy to reduce ED overutilization and related costs. METHODS A comparison group quasi-experimental design was used to evaluate a broad-based community partnership that provided access to care for the uninsured-Project Access Dallas (PAD)-on ED utilization and related costs. Eligible uninsured patients seen in the ED were enrolled in PAD (n = 265) with similar patients not enrolled in PAD (n = 309) serving as controls. Study patients were aged 18-65 years, <200% of the federal poverty level and uninsured. Outcome measures include the number of ED visits, hospital days and direct and indirect costs. RESULTS PAD program enrollees had significantly fewer ED visits (0.93 vs. 1.44; P < 0.01) and fewer inpatient hospital days (0.37 vs. 1.07; P < 0.05) than controls. Direct hospital costs were ∼60% less (

Prevalence of Diabetes and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Rural-to-Urban Nong Zhuan Fei Migrants in an Urban Area of Northern China, 2013.

1188 vs.

Relationship of body mass index and psychosocial factors on physical activity in underserved adolescent boys and girls.

446; P < 0.01) and indirect costs were 50% less (

The Relationship Between Food Tracking And Attendance in a Weight Management Intervention in African American Women

313 vs.

Association Between Education Level and Spiritual Health Locus of Control

692; P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS A broad-based community partnership program can significantly reduce ED utilization and related costs among the uninsured.