The Healthy Kids & Families study: Outcomes of a 24-month childhood obesity prevention intervention

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Pediatrics
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Childhood obesity is a significant health burden, particularly in socioeconomically disadvantaged populations.
• Existing interventions often fail to adequately address obesity prevention in these vulnerable groups.
• The Healthy Kids & Families study aimed to fill this gap with a novel approach.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the Healthy Kids & Families intervention in preventing childhood obesity.
• To assess the intervention's impact on children's body mass index (BMI) z-score and related health behaviors.
• To examine changes in parent BMI and health behaviors as secondary outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A quasi-experimental design was employed with 247 child-parent dyads from socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods.
• Participants were randomized to either the Healthy Kids & Families intervention or an attention-control condition (positive parenting).
• The intervention was delivered by community health workers (CHWs) focusing on parents to improve child lifestyle behaviors over 24 months.

Main Results:

• The Healthy Kids & Families intervention showed a trend towards greater reduction in children's BMI z-score compared to the control group (p=0.057).
• Significant improvements were observed in the number of positive child behavior changes related to diet and physical activity (p=0.02).
• No significant changes were found in parent BMI or reported behaviors.

Conclusions:

• The Healthy Kids & Families intervention demonstrates potential for childhood obesity prevention in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities.
• Parent-focused, CHW-delivered lifestyle interventions can positively influence children's health behaviors.
• Further research is warranted to optimize intervention components for sustained impact on child weight outcomes.