None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Aim: This study aims to test the effectiveness of a childhood obesity prevention intervention delivered to first-time parents and focused on parenting skills which support the development of positive diet and Physical Activity (PA) behaviours, and reduced Sedentary Behaviours (SB) in infants. Hypotheses: In comparison to the control group infants, over the course of the intervention, the intervention group infants will: 1. Demonstrate greater increases in consumption of fruits and vegetables, and smaller increases in consumption of cordials, soft-drinks and juices and energy-dense snack foods 2. Demonstrate greater increases in time spent being physically active and smaller increases in time spent in sedentary behaviours, specifically Television (TV) viewing 3. Exhibit reduced incremental Body Mass Index (BMI) gain In comparison to the control group parents, the intervention group parents will demonstrate greater increases in: 4. The frequency with which they offer fruit and vegetables, water and milk (rather than cordials, soft-drinks and juices), and smaller increases in the frequency with which they offer energy-dense snack foods to their child 5. Knowledge regarding infant eating, physical activity and sedentary behaviours and greater development of positive attitudes/beliefs regarding their capacity to influence these behaviours 6. The adoption of desired feeding strategies, including the division of responsibility in feeding and in providing opportunities for modelling of healthy eating 7. The adoption of strategies, including modelling, for increasing opportunities for physical activity and reducing opportunities for sedentary behaviours
Interventions
We aim to assess the effectiveness of a 42-month parent- focused child obesity-prevention intervention (compared with a no-intervention control) delivered to first-time parents. This cluster RCT (InFANT-Extend) will replicate the InFANT study design. InFANT is a 15-month parent-focussed obesity-prevention intervention commencing when infants are three-months of age, and delivered in existing social networks (first-time parent groups). InFANT concluded in March 2010. Children are 18-months of ag
We aim to assess the effectiveness of a 42-month parent- focused child obesity-prevention intervention (compared with a no-intervention control) delivered to first-time parents. This cluster RCT (InFANT-Extend) will replicate the InFANT study design. InFANT is a 15-month parent-focussed obesity-prevention intervention commencing when infants are three-months of age, and delivered in existing social networks (first-time parent groups). InFANT concluded in March 2010. Children are 18-months of age at program conclusion. This study, known as InFANT- Extend, will enable assessment of the effectiveness of a 42-month parent- focused child obesity-prevention intervention (compared with a no-intervention control). In summary, the InFANT intervention involves: * delivery of six quarterly group-sessions (child aged 3-18 months) The sessions will run for approximately 1.5 hour each and will cover a different topic. The Tap into Water, Colour Every Meal with Fruit and Veg, Snack on Fruit and Veg and Off and Running and Parents Provide Kids Decide. topics will be Eat together Play Together. * six between session mailed newsletters reinforcing session messages * purpose-designed InFANT DVD used in sessions and as take-home resource * control-group receive usual care plus quarterly generic child health newsletters The intervention arm will receive the previously trialled InFANT intervention delivered in first-time parent groups until child is aged 18-months. Around this time parent capacity to participate in groups rapidly diminishes, reflecting recommencement of work for many mothers. As continued delivery via groups is no longer viable, InFANT-Extend will be delivered at the individual level for the additional 24-months of the intervention. This will be via newsletters sent out to the intervention group approximately quarterly.
Sponsors
Deakin University
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Educational / counselling / training
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
0 to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Sixty two first time parent groups from Maternal and Child Health (MCH) centres in the Greater City of Geelong and within surrounding municipalities (Melton shire, Wyndham city, Surfcoast shire, Hobsons Bay, Ballarat) will be recruited. Groups with a minimum of 8 mothers willing to participate will be included in the study. In all, 62 groups will be recruited and randomly selected into the Intervention and Control groups. Children will be aged 3-4 months. Participation in this study would require participants to be a member of a 'first-time parents group'. More specifically, participation entails being a parent for the first time and regularly attending a first-time parents group which is linked to a Maternal and Child Health Centres (MCHC) within a randomly selected recruited Local Government Areas (LGA). Parents will also be eligible to participate if they are able to freely give informed consent and can communicate in English. For the extended intervention, all parents must have been enrolled in the InFANT study before they receive the extended intervention.
Exclusion criteria
Parents will be excluded from the study if: 1. They are unable to give informed consent 2. They are unable to communicate in English Infants with chronic health problems that are likely to influence height, weight, levels of physical activity or eating habits will be excluded from analyses, but will be permitted to participate in the study.
Outcome results
None listed