Reducing Obesity Through Play: A Randomized Control Trial
University of Houston
Summary
The purpose of this study is to test various ways to help toddlers develop healthy eating and activity behaviors. Parents and toddlers, who participate in this research will be randomly assigned to either 1) continue their lifestyle behaviors for 10-weeks and then receive a health club membership for 1-month, 2) attend a health promotion playgroup together for 10 weeks, or 3) to attend an educational class for parents while toddlers are in childcare for 10-weeks. Physical measures of toddlers (height, weight, dietary intake, activity) will be collected. Parent-report surveys with questions about parenting, toddler diet, toddler temperament, food security status, demographic qualities, and satisfaction with group assignment will be collected. Last, the interactions between parents and toddlers will be observed and assessed during short play tasks via Zoom. All measures will be collected immediately upon signing up for the study (week 0), 10-weeks later (post), and 24-weeks after signing up for the study.
Description
In this randomized control trial, 300 parent-toddler dyads will be recruited and randomly assigned to one of three groups for 10-weeks. Those dyads assigned to the usual lifestyle group will not make any changes and will maintain their normal behaviors. Dyads assigned to the Families Understanding Nutrition and Physically Activity Lifestyles (FUNPALs) Playgroup will be invited to attend weekly playgroup sessions together. For those assigned to the Healthy Toddler Parent Group, parents will attend weekly health education classes where toddler health behaviors will be discussed. At baseline (wee…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 1–3 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion criteria: * Parents: Primary custodian (i.e., legal guardian) of a toddler, \>18 years, have regular and frequent access to internet, fluent in English. * Toddlers: \>/=18 and \</=36 months of age, and walking. Exclusion criteria include: * Parents or toddlers who have mental or physical conditions that would prevent engagement in nutrition, physical activity, play, or instructional activities in a group setting or families unwilling to commit to the whole program (e.g., planning to move) will be excluded because participants may be randomly assigned to group interventions where e…
Interventions
- BehavioralHealthy Toddler Parent Group (HTPG)
Parent education class
- BehavioralFamilies Understanding Nutrition and Physically Active Lifestyles (FUNPALs) Playgroup
Family playgroup
Location
- University of HoustonHouston, Texas