Translation of Two Healthy Eating and Active Living Support Programs for Parents of 2-6-Year-Old Children: Outcomes of the 'Time for Healthy Habits' Parallel Partially Randomised Preference Trial.

Megan L Hammersley,Fiona Stacey,Chris Rissel,Simon Eckermann,Serene Yoong,Rebecca J Wyse,Amanda Green,Anthony D Okely,Rachel A Jones,Luke Wolfenden,Vincy Li,Joe Xu,Jacklyn Jackson,Christine Innes-Hughes,Marijka J Batterham

doi:10.3390/nu13103348

Abstract

This translation study assessed the effectiveness of two remotely delivered healthy eating and active living interventions for parents of 2- to 6-year-old children in improving child fruit and vegetable intake, non-core food intake, body mass index (BMI), physical activity, screen time, and sleep. Parents (n = 458) were recruited to a partially randomised preference trial comprising three intervention groups. Healthy Habits Plus comprised six telephone calls, Time2bHealthy comprised six online modules, and the active control comprised ten information sheets and a summary booklet. Data were collected from parents via a telephone questionnaire at baseline and nine months post-baseline. Data were analysed for randomised participants alone (n = 240), preference participants alone (n = 218), and all participants combined (n = 458). There was no significant improvement in fruit and vegetable intake (primary outcome) when comparing the telephone and online interventions to the control. In both the randomised only and all participants combined analyses, there was a significant improvement in non-core food intake for the telephone intervention compared to the control (p < 0.001). Differences between interventions for other outcomes were small. In conclusion, the telephone and online interventions did not improve child fruit and vegetable intake relative to written materials, but the telephone intervention did improve non-core food intake.

Highlights

IntroductionEstablishing positive health behaviours such as healthy dietary intake and movement behaviours (physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep) in early life is critical to reduce the risks of obesity in childhood and beyond [1]
Establishing positive health behaviours such as healthy dietary intake and movement behaviours in early life is critical to reduce the risks of obesity in childhood and beyond [1]
There was a reduction in child non-core food intake for participants in the telephone intervention, compared to the control

Summary

Introduction

Establishing positive health behaviours such as healthy dietary intake and movement behaviours (physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep) in early life is critical to reduce the risks of obesity in childhood and beyond [1]. Previous research has established that interventions which target parents have more favourable outcomes than those that involve only the child [3,4,5], and it is important to involve parents in interventions focusing on early childhood [4,6]. The Healthy Habits randomised controlled trial (RCT) investigated a 4-week telephone-based intervention delivered to parents of 3- to 5-year-old children. Based on Golan’s family-based model of intervention [9], the intervention targeted fruit and vegetable intake.

Methods

Results

Conclusion