Correlates of participation in a pediatric primary care-based obesity prevention intervention

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health
• Public Health Research
• Obesity Prevention

Background:

• Childhood obesity is a significant public health concern requiring effective prevention strategies.
• Recruitment for childhood obesity prevention trials is crucial for generating robust evidence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify factors associated with parental participation in a childhood obesity prevention trial.
• To understand differences between parents who participated and those who refused enrollment.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial setting was used, contacting parents of eligible preschool-aged children.
• Data were collected from both participating parents (n=475) and those who refused (n=329).
• Multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to examine correlates of participation.

Main Results:

• Parents with higher education (college graduates) were less likely to participate.
• Parents of children classified as overweight (BMI 85th to <95th percentile) were less likely to participate compared to parents of obese children (BMI ≥95th percentile).
• A significant proportion of parents who refused enrollment, particularly those with overweight children, cited that their child did not have a weight problem.

Conclusions:

• Parental perception of a child's weight status significantly influences participation in obesity prevention trials.
• Intervention recruitment strategies may need to address parental awareness and perceived need for obesity prevention programs, especially for children in the overweight category.