Richard E. Boles

a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of a Clinic and Home-Based Behavioral Intervention to Decrease Obesity in Preschoolers

We evaluated the efficacy of a 6‐month clinic and home‐based behavioral intervention (Learning about Activity and Understanding Nutrition for Child Health; LAUNCH) to reduce obesity in preschool children ≥95th BMI percentile compared to enhanced standard of care (Pediatrician Counseling; PC). LAUNCH was a family‐based behavioral intervention that taught parents to use child behavior management strategies to increase healthy eating and activity for their children and themselves. PC presented the same diet and activity recommendations, but was delivered in a one‐time PC session. Eighteen children aged 2–5 years (mean 4.71 ± 1.01) with an average BMI percentile of 98 (±1.60) and an overweight parent were randomized to LAUNCH or PC. Assessments were conducted at baseline, 6 months (end of LAUNCH treatment) and 12 months (6 months following LAUNCH treatment). LAUNCH showed a significantly greater decrease on the primary outcomes of child at month 6 (post‐treatment) BMI z (−0.59 ± 0.17), BMI percentile (−2.4 ± 1.0), and weight gain (−2.7 kg ± 1.2) than PC and this difference was maintained at follow‐up (month 12). LAUNCH parents also had a significantly greater weight loss (−5.5 kg ± 0.9) at month 6 and 12 (−8.0 kg ± 3.5) than PC parents. Based on the data from this small sample, an intensive intervention that includes child behavior management strategies to improve healthy eating and activity appears more promising in reducing preschool obesity than a low intensity intervention that is typical of treatment that could be delivered in primary care.

How Pediatricians Can Improve Diet and Activity for Overweight Preschoolers: A Qualitative Study of Parental Attitudes

OBJECTIVE This study sought feedback from parents of overweight preschoolers on terms for overweight and treatment strategies pediatricians could use to help parents improve diet and activity for their children. METHODS Twenty-three parents of 21 children aged 2 to 6 years and between the 85th and 94th percentile body mass index participated in focus groups conducted by a pediatrician to assess 1) terms and health risks that motivate parents, 2) barriers that prevent adoption of recommended behaviors, and 3) recommendations for pediatricians on strategies to help parents improve child diet and activity. RESULTS With regard to weight status, parents preferred the terms overweight and obese as long as pediatricians provided rationale for the classification. Parents recommended that pediatricians avoid colloquial terms to describe weight status. With regard to American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations for weight management in overweight preschoolers, parents were reluctant to restrict 100% fruit juice, needed specific strategies to increase vegetable consumption, and said limiting screen time would be difficult, especially when busy or during inclement weather. Despite identification of barriers, parents reported confidence in adopting all recommended behaviors except vegetable intake if given the rationale for the recommendation and strategies for implementation. CONCLUSION Parents recommended that pediatricians speak clearly about weight status, explain rationale for concern, relate that concern to family history, and provide specific advice and treatment recommendations.

Confirmatory factor analysis of the Child Feeding Questionnaire among low-income African American families of preschool children

This study examined the factor structure for three of the Child Feeding Questionnaire (CFQ) subscales, a widely used measure of parental feeding practices, among 296 low-income parents of African American preschool children. Confirmatory factor analysis showed an overall poor fit among CFQ subscales; Restriction, Pressure to Eat, and Concern about Child Weight, (chi(2), (df=87=300.249, CFI=1.00, NNFI=1.07, RMSEA=.091). Additionally, Cronbachs Alpha coefficients for 2 of the three subscales were below acceptable recommendations (Restriction=0.69; Pressure to Eat=0.58). These results suggest further psychometric clarification is needed to understand commonly reported feeding practice constructs among low-income African American mothers of preschool aged children.

Strategies for Recruitment and Retention of Families From Low-Income, Ethnic Minority Backgrounds in a Longitudinal Study of Caregiver Feeding and Child Weight

Children from low socioeconomic status (SES) and ethnic minority backgrounds are at heightened risk for overweight, yet are underrepresented in the pediatric obesity literature. This article describes strategies employed to minimize barriers to recruitment and retention of African American families receiving Women, Infants, and Children services in a longitudinal study examining caregiver feeding and child weight. Seventy-six families enrolled in the study over 3½ years, and 50% of the families completed the study. Despite effortful planning, unanticipated barriers likely contributed to lengthy recruitment and a modest retention rate. Future research should incorporate lessons learned to modify and develop effective strategies for increasing engagement of low-SES and ethnic minority families in research.

Differences in Home Food and Activity Environments between Obese and Healthy Weight Families of Preschool Children

OBJECTIVE To develop and test a home food and activity instrument to discriminate between the home environments of obese and healthy weight preschool children. DESIGN A modified questionnaire about home environments was tested as an observation tool. SETTING Family homes. PARTICIPANTS A total of 35 obese children with at least 1 obese caregiver were compared with 47 healthy weight children with no obese caregivers. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Home observation assessments were conducted to evaluate the availability of devices supporting activity behaviors and foods based on availability, accessibility, and readiness to be eaten. ANALYSIS Agreement statistics were conducted to analyze psychometrics and MANOVAs were conducted to assess group differences, significance, P < .05. RESULTS Home observations showed acceptable agreement statistics between independent coders across food and activity items. Families of obese preschoolers were significantly less likely to have fresh vegetables available or accessible in the home, were more likely to have a television in the obese childs bedroom, and had fewer physical activity devices compared with healthy weight preschoolers. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Families of young children live in home environments that were discriminatively characterized based on home observations. Future tool refinement will further clarify the impact of the home environment on early growth.

Developing a Treatment Program for Obesity in Preschool-Age Children: Preliminary Data

This study developed and tested the feasibility of a behavioral intervention that utilizes clinic and home visitations to reduce overweight in preschool children above the 95th body mass index (BMI) percentile. Five families of preschool children ages 2 to 5 years with a BMI above the 95th percentile and 1 overweight parent were enrolled in a 24-week behavioral weight management program. Phase I, Intensive Treatment, included 12 weekly sessions, alternating group-based clinic sessions, and home settings. Phase II, Maintenance, included 6 biweekly sessions alternating between the clinic and home settings. Treatment focused on teaching parents to use behavioral child management strategies to systematically implement dietary changes across beverages, snacks, and meals, as well as to increase physical activity. Home visits focused on modifying the home food environment and in vivo use of child behavior management skills. Treatment targeted either weight maintenance or a small weight loss. Outcome measures were obtained at baseline (Week 0), end of treatment (Week 24), and at 6-month follow up after treatment ended (Week 52). Three participants completed 24 weeks of treatment and were compared to 2 participants who did not complete treatment. Treatment completers showed reductions in zBMI and percentage of overweight, whereas 2 non-completing families increased their percentage of overweight and maintained their zBMI at 6-month follow up. These results suggest initial support for development of a behavior-based weight management intervention for obese preschool children and their families. Intervention targets appear to be enhanced by the inclusion of home visitations in which food environments are changed to facilitate treatment goals.

The use of TeleMedicine in the treatment of paediatric obesity: feasibility and acceptability

To assess the feasibility of conducting empirically supported family-based paediatric obesity group treatment via TeleMedicine. Seventeen families were randomly assigned to one of two conditions (physician visit, TeleMedicine). Measures included feasibility, satisfaction and intervention outcome measures such as BMI percentile, and nutrition and activity behaviours. Measures were completed at baseline, post-treatment and at 1-year follow-up. Analyses indicate that both feasibility and satisfaction data regarding the TeleMedicine intervention were positive. Intervention outcome indicates no change in BMI percentile or nutrition and activity behaviours for either treatment group. A behavioural family-based weight loss intervention delivered via TeleMedicine was well received by both parents and providers. Due to the small sample size, null findings regarding intervention outcome should be interpreted with caution. Future research should focus on methods to increase the impact of this intervention on key outcome variables.

Family Chaos and Child Functioning in Relation to Sleep Problems Among Children at Risk for Obesity

This study evaluated the influence of child and family functioning on child sleep behaviors in low-income minority families who are at risk for obesity. A cross-sectional study was utilized to measure child and family functioning from 2013 to 2014. Participants were recruited from Head Start classrooms while data were collected during home visits. A convenience sample of 72 low-income Hispanic (65%) and African American (32%) families of preschool-aged children were recruited for this study. We assessed the association of child and family functioning with child sleep behaviors using a multivariate multiple linear regression model. Bootstrap mediation analyses examined the effects of family chaos between child functioning and child sleep problems. Poorer child emotional and behavioral functioning related to total sleep behavior problems. Chaos associated with bedtime resistance significantly mediated the relationship between Behavioral and Emotional Screening System (BESS) and Bedtime Resistance. Families at high risk for obesity showed children with poorer emotional and behavioral functioning were at higher risk for problematic sleep behaviors, although we found no link between obesity and child sleep. Family chaos appears to play a significant role in understanding part of these relationships. Future longitudinal studies are necessary to establish causal relationships between child and family functioning and sleep problems to further guide obesity interventions aimed at improving child sleep routines and increasing sleep duration.

Home food and activity assessment. Development and validation of an instrument for diverse families of young children

The purpose of this study was to refine and psychometrically test an instrument measuring the home food and activity environment of geographically and economically diverse families of preschool aged children. Caregivers of preschool aged children (n = 83) completed a modified self-report questionnaire. Reliably trained researchers conducted independent observations on 25 randomly selected homes. Agreement statistics were conducted at the item level (154 total items) to determine reliability. Frequency counts were calculated to identify item availability. Results showed Kappa statistics were high (.67-1.00) between independent researchers but varied between researchers and parents resulting in 85 items achieving criterion validity (Kappa >.60). Analyses of reliable items revealed the presence in the home of a high frequency of unhealthy snack foods, high fat milk and low frequency of availability of fruits/vegetables and low fat milk. Fifty-two percent of the homes were arranged with a television in the preschool childs bedroom. Physical Activity devices also were found to have high frequency availability. Families reporting lower education reported higher levels of sugar sweetened beverages and less low-fat dairy (p < .05) compared with higher education families. Low-income families (<

Young Children’s Food Neophobia Characteristics and Sensory Behaviors Are Related to Their Food Intake

27K per year) reported significantly fewer Physical Activity devices (p < .001) compared with higher income families. Hispanic families reported significantly higher numbers of Sedentary Devices (p < .05) compared with non-Hispanic families. There were no significant differences between demographic comparisons on available fruits/vegetables, meats, whole grains, and regular fat dairy. A modified home food and activity instrument was found to reliably identify foods and activity devices with geographically and economically diverse families.