Beverage Choice and Lifestyle Modification in Overweight Youth

University of Pennsylvania

Status: Completed

Conditions: Obesity

Treatments: Other: Nutrition Education (NE); Behavioral: Beverage Choice and Lifestyle Modification

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT01662570

R21DK079075 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

807775

Details and patient eligibility

About

The rise in childhood overweightness and concomitant increase in chronic disease risk warrants exploration into the effectiveness of interventions targeting the eating and activity habits of overweight youth. This research study developed and tested a "Beverage Choice and Lifestyle Modification" (BCLM) intervention for 4 to 8 year old children who are at-risk for being overweight or are overweight and who consume large amounts of sugar sweetened beverages and juice. The overall study objectives were to test the acceptability and effectiveness of the BCLM intervention for improving the weight status, energy (kcal) intake, beverage selections and beverage preferences of children in targeted age and BMI group. The investigators hypothesized that those children randomized to the BCLM group will show greater improvements in weight and Body Mass Index (BMI) status, beverage choices,and energy intake than those assigned to our Nutrition Education (NE) group.

Enrollment: 65 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 4 to 8 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Ages 4-8 years old
• BMI≥85th percentile (based on age and sex)
• consumes large (≥16 oz.day) sugar sweetened beverages

Exclusion criteria

• Child has a serious medical condition
• Signs of elevated psychopathology are present, as assessed by the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL)
• Parent demonstrates elevated psychiatric problems or eating disorders
• Failure of parent or child to meet BMI criteria

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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65 participants in 2 patient groups

Beverage Choice Lifestyle Modification

Active Comparator group

Description:

The family-based BCLM intervention trained children and parents in self monitoring of sugar sweetened beverage intake and goal-setting, incorporated feedback and reinforcement, and provided water bottles and water filters to promote a reduction in sugar sweetened beverages and overall energy intake.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Beverage Choice and Lifestyle Modification

Nutrition Education (NE)

Other group

Description:

This treatment for parents and children addressed a variety of topics in nutrition including benefits of fruits and vegetables, the food pyramid, vitamins, benefits of eating a variety of foods, and healthy beverage selections. No behavioral change training component was included.

Treatment:

Other: Nutrition Education (NE)