Effect of a Behavioral Intervention for Underserved Preschool-Age Children on Change in Body Mass Index: A Randomized
Shari L Barkin1, William J Heerman2, Evan C Sommer2
1Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee.
Insights
A 36-month intervention did not alter child body mass index (BMI) trajectories in underserved preschoolers. However, it did reduce caloric intake and increase community center use, suggesting potential for targeted health behavior improvements.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a critical issue in underserved populations, associated with higher chronic disease risks.
- Early intervention is essential to prevent obesity and its long-term health consequences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of a 36-month multicomponent behavioral intervention on the body mass index (BMI) growth trajectories of preschool-age children at risk for obesity.
- To assess the intervention's effect on health behaviors in children from underserved communities.
Main Methods:
- A randomized clinical trial involving 610 parent-child pairs from underserved communities in Nashville, Tennessee.
- Intervention group received a 36-month family-based, community-centered program targeting health behaviors.
- Control group received 36-month school-readiness sessions.
Main Results:
- No significant difference was observed in the primary outcome of child BMI trajectory over 36 months between the intervention and control groups (P=.39).
- The intervention group showed a significantly lower mean caloric intake compared to the control group (-99.4 kcal/d; corrected P=.003).
- Intervention group parents reported increased use of community centers with their children (RR, 1.29; corrected P=.006).
Conclusions:
- A 36-month multicomponent behavioral intervention did not alter BMI trajectory in underserved preschool-age children.
- The intervention demonstrated effectiveness in reducing caloric intake and increasing community center utilization.
- Further research is needed to explore the effectiveness of different behavioral interventions or implementation in other settings.
Importance:
Prevention of obesity during childhood is critical for children in underserved populations, for whom obesity prevalence and risk of chronic disease are highest.
Objective:
To test the effect of a multicomponent behavioral intervention on child body mass index (BMI, calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) growth trajectories over 36 months among preschool-age children at risk for obesity.
Design, Setting, And Participants:
A randomized clinical trial assigned 610 parent-child pairs from underserved communities in Nashville, Tennessee, to a 36-month intervention targeting health behaviors or a school-readiness control. Eligible children were between ages 3 and 5 years and at risk for obesity but not yet obese. Enrollment occurred from August 2012 to May 2014; 36-month follow-up occurred from October 2015 to June 2017.
Interventions:
The intervention (n = 304 pairs) was a 36-month family-based, community-centered program, consisting of 12 weekly skills-building sessions, followed by monthly coaching telephone calls for 9 months, and a 24-month sustainability phase providing cues to action. The control (n = 306 pairs) consisted of 6 school-readiness sessions delivered over the 36-month study, conducted by the Nashville Public Library.
Main Outcomes And Measures:
The primary outcome was child BMI trajectory over 36 months. Seven prespecified secondary outcomes included parent-reported child dietary intake and community center use. The Benjamini-Hochberg procedure corrected for multiple comparisons.
Results:
Participants were predominantly Latino (91.4%). At baseline, the mean (SD) child age was 4.3 (0.9) years; 51.9% were female. Household income was below $25 000 for 56.7% of families. Retention was 90.2%. At 36 months, the mean (SD) child BMI was 17.8 (2.2) in the intervention group and 17.8 (2.1) in the control group. No significant difference existed in the primary outcome of BMI trajectory over 36 months (P = .39). The intervention group children had a lower mean caloric intake (1227 kcal/d) compared with control group children (1323 kcal/d) (adjusted difference, -99.4 kcal [95% CI, -160.7 to -38.0]; corrected P = .003). Intervention group parents used community centers with their children more than control group parents (56.8% in intervention; 44.4% in control) (risk ratio, 1.29 [95% CI, 1.08 to 1.53]; corrected P = .006).
Conclusions And Relevance:
A 36-month multicomponent behavioral intervention did not change BMI trajectory among underserved preschool-age children in Nashville, Tennessee, compared with a control program. Whether there would be effectiveness for other types of behavioral interventions or implementation in other cities would require further research.
Trial Registration:
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01316653.
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