A Mobile Phone Based Pilot Intervention to Prevent Obesity in Latino Preschool Children

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Parenting; Childhood Obesity; Mobile Phone Use

Treatments: Behavioral: healthy weight behaviors supported by web-based mobile phone application

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT04261985

1R21HD096298-01A1 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Details and patient eligibility

About

To pilot a stand-alone mobile phone intervention with Latino caregivers of 2- to 5-year olds, using a prospective control group design, to assess feasibility and preliminary effect sizes on children's BMI changes (primary outcome) and dietary and physical activity changes (secondary outcomes) at 6 months post-baseline, in preparation for a larger randomized trial to evaluate the intervention's efficacy.

Full description

The investigators will pilot an mHealth intervention using a prospective control group design with 66 caregiver-child dyads (33 intervention and 33 comparison) recruited from two community based agencies in East Los Angeles. Fidelity and feasibility will be assessed. Pre- and post- intervention data (child dietary, physical activity, and media viewing behaviors and BMI z-scores) will be collected to estimate preliminary effect sizes and standard deviations. The mHealth intervention has been informed by a previous feasibility study and focus groups with Latino caregivers of 2- to 5-year old children. This mHealth childhood obesity intervention specifically targets Latino mothers, fathers, and grandmothers of 2- to 5-year olds. The intervention focuses on parenting skills, dietary, physical activity, and media-viewing behaviors consistent with American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines.

Enrollment: 59 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 2+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• adult male or female caregiver
• self-identifies as an individual of Latino descent
• has a child or grandchild 2-5 years of age (relationship does not have to be biological but caregiver is a legal guardian)
• lives with or cares for child/grandchild at least 20 hours/week
• is fluent in English or Spanish
• has the ability to participate in the mHealth intervention (ability determined by using a Subject Comprehension and Participation Assessment Tool)
• agrees to complete baseline, 1-, and 6-month post-baseline surveys and have adult and child height and weight measured.

Exclusion criteria

• child has a failure to thrive diagnosis
• medical complications associated with their weight status such as Prader-Willi Syndrome

Trial design

Primary purpose: Health Services Research

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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59 participants in 2 patient groups

Mobile Phone Obesity Intervention

Active Comparator group

Description:

Approximately 30 caregiver-child dyads will be randomized into the intervention arm. Every week for 4 weeks, caregivers will receive 4 interactive multi-media phone prompts to support the intervention's targeted topics. Each mobile phone prompt starts with a 140-character text with an embedded link. Clicking on the link navigates caregivers to a web-based application with interactive content that includes images, text, videos, and prompts. Each week, caregivers will share their goal/s, perceived barriers, questions, tips and strategies that may be helpful to other participants. Each week, caregivers will also receive strategies, and individual and group feedback on changing unhealthy behaviors.

Treatment:

Behavioral: healthy weight behaviors supported by web-based mobile phone application

Control

No Intervention group

Description:

Approximately 30 caregiver-child dyads will be randomized into the control (no intervention) arm. Every week for 4 weeks, these caregivers will receive 4 interactive multi-media phone prompts around managing common illness in young children (i.e. fever, vomiting, constipation, etc.) Each mobile phone prompt will start with a 140-character text with an embedded link. Clicking on the link navigates caregivers to a web-based application with interactive content that includes images, text, videos, and prompts. Each week, caregivers will share questions and strategies that may be helpful to other participants. Each week, caregivers will also receive tips and group feedback based on group questions.