Is it Helpful to Use Fitbits in a Family Based Weight Loss Program?

Children's Hospital Los Angeles

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Pediatric Obesity

Treatments: Device: Fitbit

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; Industry; NIH

Identifiers

NCT03215641

R25DK096944 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

CHLA-15-00269

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study evaluates the role of personal activity trackers to help improve weight loss or weight maintenance for children and their parents enrolled in a comprehensive weight loss program.

Full description

Childhood obesity rates have tripled in the last 30 years, with as many as 50% of children in the US being obese or overweight. High-intensity comprehensive behavioral family lifestyle intervention (CBFLI) programs have been shown to be among the most effective interventions for weight loss in children. However, these programs are time- and resource-intensive with high rates of recidivism. Personal activity trackers (PAT) provide objectively measured physical activity data and are more reliable than self-report. These devices can also have a motivational impact. The investigators intend to study the effects of these devices and their data on behavior change and weight loss for both parents and children enrolled in a CBFLI program. The investigators will objectively measure the level of activity of both members of the parent-child dyad, explore the relationship between parent-child activity levels and its effect on each other, as well as on overall weight loss or weight maintenance.

Enrollment: 200 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 7+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• All individuals enrolled in BodyWorks who are at least 7 years old meet inclusion criteria for this study. there is no maximum age for participation.

Exclusion criteria

Unable to wear PAT as described in study protocol Unwilling to wear PAT Unwilling to participate in the study

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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200 participants in 2 patient groups

Control

No Intervention group

Description:

The control group families will participate in the standard Body Works weight loss program. They will fill out brief surveys regarding their physical activity on a weekly basis, but otherwise will receive the standard curriculum. they will receive weekly feedback based on their physical activity surveys.

Intervention

Experimental group

Description:

The intervention group families will be given fitbits on the first day of the Body Works program. They will otherwise receive the same curriculum as the control families. the will fill out the same physical activity surveys as the control families. they will receive weekly feedback based on the objectively measured physical activity.

Treatment:

Device: Fitbit