Abstract
BackgroundPoor feeding practices during infancy contribute to obesity risk. As infants transition from human milk and/or formula-based diets to solid foods, these practices interfere with infant feeding self-regulation and healthy growth patterns. Compared with other socioeconomic groups, lower-income mothers are more likely to experience difficulty feeding their infants. This may include misinterpreting feeding cues and using less-than-optimal feeding styles and practices, such as pressuring infants during mealtimes and prematurely introducing solid food and sweetened beverages. The Healthy Babies trial aims to determine the efficacy of a community-based randomized controlled trial of an in-home intervention with economically and educationally disadvantaged mother-infant dyads. The educational intervention is being conducted during the infant's first 6 months of life to promote healthy transition to solids during their first year and is based on the theory of planned behavior.Methods/DesignWe will describe our study protocol for a multisite randomized control trial being conducted in Colorado and Michigan with an anticipated sample of 372 economically and educationally disadvantaged African American, Hispanic, and Caucasian mothers with infants. Participants are being recruited by county community agency staff. Participants are randomly assigned to the intervention or the control group. The intervention consists of six in-home visits by a trained paraprofessional instructor followed by three reinforcement telephone contacts when the baby is 6, 8, and 10 months old. Main maternal outcomes include a) maternal responsiveness, b) feeding style, and c) feeding practices. Main infant outcome is infant growth pattern. All measures occur at baseline and when the infant is 6 and 12 months old.DiscussionIf this project is successful, the expected outcomes will address whether the home-based early nutrition education intervention is effective in helping mothers develop healthy infant feeding practices that contribute to improving infant health and development and reducing the risk of early-onset childhood obesity.Trial RegistrationCurrent Controlled Trials ACTRN126100000415000
Highlights
Poor feeding practices during infancy contribute to obesity risk
If this project is successful, the expected outcomes will address whether the home-based early nutrition education intervention is effective in helping mothers develop healthy infant feeding practices that contribute to improving infant health and development and reducing the risk of early-onset childhood obesity
The primary analysis is of the intent-to-treat type. If this project is successful, the expected outcomes are that the intervention will be effective in helping mothers with young infants develop healthy infant feeding practices that will contribute to the overall health and development of the infant, and in reducing the risk of childhood obesity in vulnerable populations
Summary
If this project is successful, the expected outcomes are that the intervention will be effective in helping mothers with young infants develop healthy infant feeding practices that will contribute to the overall health and development of the infant, and in reducing the risk of childhood obesity in vulnerable populations. Acknowledgements and Funding The authors thank the county Extension EFNEP staff from Michigan and Colorado for their participation in the Healthy Babies intervention. Author details 1College of Nursing, Michigan State University, B 515 G West Fee Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824 USA. Of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University, 2112 Anthony Hall East Lansing, MI 48824 USA. Of Family and Child Ecology, 3F Human Ecology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824 USA.
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