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Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
09:36

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study

Published on: February 2, 2017

An observational study of an employer intervention for children's healthy weight behaviors

Martín-J Sepúlveda1, Chifung Lu, Stewart Sill

  • 1IBM Corporation, Box 100, Route 100, Somers, NY 10589, USA. mjs851@us.ibm.com

Pediatrics
|October 6, 2010
PubMed

Insights

A workplace wellness program with a cash incentive improved healthy weight behaviors in families. The intervention successfully increased physical activity and healthy meals while reducing screen time in parents and children.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Behavioral Science
  • Health Promotion

Background:

  • Childhood obesity is a significant public health concern.
  • Workplace wellness programs can play a role in promoting healthy lifestyles.
  • Short-term interventions may be effective in initiating behavior change.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effectiveness of a workplace intervention in improving healthy weight behaviors among parents and children.
  • To assess the impact of a cash incentive on participation and adherence to a wellness program.

Main Methods:

  • An observational study using a preprogram/postprogram design.
  • A 12-week program focused on family food planning, physical activity, and screen time.
  • Self-reported data collected to measure changes in targeted behaviors.

Main Results:

  • Significant improvements were observed in family physical activity levels, with participation in activity >3 times/week increasing by 17.1 percentage points.
  • The proportion of families eating healthy dinners ≥5 days/week increased by 11.8 percentage points.
  • Reductions in entertainment screen time were reported, with <1 hour/day increasing by 8.3 pp for children and 6.1 pp for adults.

Conclusions:

  • A web-based intervention combined with a cash incentive can effectively improve healthy weight behaviors in children and parents.
  • Employers can play a vital role in community-based obesity prevention strategies.
  • Future research should incorporate experimental designs and biometric data for stronger evidence.
Abstract

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