Obesity
Conditions
Keywords
Obesity, Weight perceptions
Brief summary
This pilot study is a randomized controlled trial with an embedded cross sectional study exploring parental perceptions of their weight status and how it affects their perceptions of their child's weight status. This study uses an educational intervention in which parents are informed of their actual weight status and how it affects their child's health. We will study the effect of this intervention on the parent's perceptions of and level of concern for their own and their child's weight status.
Detailed description
Pediatric obesity has tripled in the past 20 years. Obesity prevention early in life is important and parental participation is essential. Parents must recognize overweight in their child so health providers may engage them in a dialogue to change their child's diet and physical activity patterns, yet a large proportion of parents do not recognize that their child is overweight. Parents' misperception of their overweight child's weight status presents a barrier to treating obesity. This pilot study is a randomized controlled trial with an embedded cross sectional study exploring parental perceptions of their weight status and how it affects their perceptions of their child's weight status. This study uses an educational intervention in which parents are informed of their actual weight status and how it affects their child's health. We will study the effect of this intervention on the parent's perceptions of and level of concern for their own and their child's weight status. Our goal is to develop a primary care intervention that will enhance parental perceptions of overweight and motivation to make changes for their family. Pilot data collected here will support an R21 Exploratory/Developmental Clinical Research Grant in Obesity or a Centers for Disease Control (CDC) or Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJ) grant submission.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALEducation Intervention
The intervention is a short educational handout regarding BMI and the effect of parental weight status on children.
Sponsors
University of Colorado, Denver
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
3 Years to 13 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
1\. Boys and girls ages 3 to 13 years old presenting with at least one biological parent for a routine health maintenance exam (WCC) at the Child Health Continuity Clinic will be eligible. Parents must be able and willing to have their height and weight measured at the clinic
Exclusion criteria
1. Child has previously been referred to a nutritionist/dietician or specialized clinic/program for weight management 2. Child is currently being treated for failure to thrive 3. Child is on parenteral nutrition 4. Child is on chronic systemic steroid therapy 5. Child is non-mobile/wheelchair bound 6. The family has previously enrolled into the study with a prior sibling 7. Family is unable to be contacted at home 8. Presenting parent cannot speak and read English or Spanish at at least a 5th grade level
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Proportion of parents correctly assessing their own weight status | At first visit |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Change in proportion of parents underestimating their own weight status | At first visit and at one week follow up phone survey |
| Change in proportion of parents underestimating their child's weight status | At first visit and at one week follow up phone survey |
| Change in level of concern pre- and post-intervention | At first visit and at one week follow up phone survey |
| Proportion of parents correctly assessing their child's weight status | At first visit |
| Proportion of parents who underestimate own weight status who also underestimate their child's weight status | At first visit |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed