Hydration Intervention for Healthy Habits

Overseen By Sarah Farthing, MS

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Virginia Commonwealth University

Disqualifiers: Developmental, physical reasons, moving, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Approved in 1 Jurisdiction This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

7200 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine whether easy access to water and promoting healthy drinking habits can significantly increase water consumption among schoolchildren. The study uses refillable water bottles, education, and engaging activities to encourage students to drink more water and develop good habits. It targets K-5 students who eat lunch in the cafeteria, with a special focus on third graders who will be monitored until fifth grade. As an unphased study, this trial provides a unique opportunity for students to cultivate lifelong healthy habits in a supportive environment.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether participants need to stop taking their current medications.

What prior data suggests that this hydration intervention is safe?

A previous study found that people drank more water and other fluids after just four weeks, demonstrating that it's easy to increase fluid intake. Research has shown that drinking water helps prevent dehydration, which can cause issues like unclear thinking and mood changes. These findings suggest that increasing water intake is generally safe and beneficial.

Other studies have shown that drinking water before meals can aid in weight loss, providing another benefit of staying well-hydrated. Overall, the evidence supports that drinking more water is safe for most people, with no serious side effects reported. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this hydration intervention because it's not just about drinking more water; it's about creating lasting healthy habits. Unlike the usual advice to simply drink more fluids, this program integrates social marketing, behavioral reinforcement, and education into schools, making it a community-driven effort. By providing refillable water bottles and setting up hydration stations, it encourages students to make hydration a regular part of their day. This holistic approach aims to instill good habits early, potentially leading to lifelong health benefits.

What evidence suggests that this hydration intervention is effective for promoting healthy hydration habits?

Research has shown that drinking more water can enhance alertness and improve mood. Participants in various studies reported feeling more awake and focused after increasing their water intake. Proper hydration is also associated with better cognitive function and memory. This trial includes a Hydration Intervention arm, where participants will engage in a 4-month community participatory school-based hydration intervention. Drinking enough water is crucial, as inadequate intake can lead to health problems like kidney issues and metabolic troubles. Overall, increasing water consumption supports both mind and body, making it a beneficial habit. ^{1 2 6 7 8}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals in a district with new hydration stations and policies promoting healthy water drinking habits. It aims to assess the impact on tooth decay, weight management, and oral cancers over three years.

Inclusion Criteria

My child eats lunch in the cafeteria and is in grades K-5.

I am a student in the 3rd grade enrolling in a study until 5th grade.

All staff in the target schools will be eligible to complete the Personnel Survey

Exclusion Criteria

I am able to complete health assessments and not planning to move during the study.

None for lunchroom observations

None for staff surveys

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Hydration Intervention

4-month community participatory school-based hydration intervention including provision of refillable water bottles, social marketing, behavioral reinforcement, and education and outreach

4 months

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for effectiveness and sustainability of the hydration intervention, including assessments of water station usage, BMI, dental caries, and other secondary outcomes

up to 3 years

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Hydration

Trial Overview

The study tests a community-participatory intervention focused on encouraging proper hydration among participants. The effectiveness of newly installed hydration stations and related health policies will be evaluated.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Hydration Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

4-month community participatory school-based hydration intervention that includes provision of refillable water bottles in schools with hydration stations in addition to: 1) social marketing, 2) behavioral reinforcement, and 3) education and outreach.

Group II: Control Active Control 1 Intervention

Assessment only

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Virginia Commonwealth University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

732

Recruited

22,900,000+

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Collaborator

Trials

2,103

Recruited

2,760,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Water is essential for human health, and its intake is crucial for preventing nutrition-related diseases, especially as people increasingly consume caloric beverages instead of plain water.

There is a significant lack of comprehensive studies on total fluid intake and hydration status in populations, highlighting the need for more long-term research and controlled trials to better understand water requirements and their impact on health.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Water, hydration, and health. Popkin, BM., D'Anci, KE., Rosenberg, IH.[2022]

The study highlights significant methodological issues in hydration research, including how to select appropriate samples and methods for evaluating hydration status and water intake.

Understanding hydration should be approached as a daily routine influenced by factors like gender, age, physical activity, and environment, emphasizing the need for well-designed studies to accurately assess hydration.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Hydration: certain basic aspects for developing technical and scientific parameters into the nutrition knowledge Perales-García, A., Estévez-Martínez, I., Urrialde, R.[2018]

A systematic review of 23 studies found that multicomponent strategies, such as increasing beverage choices and staff assistance, positively impacted fluid intake and reduced dehydration risk in older adults in long-term care facilities.

The implementation of the US Resident Assessment Instrument significantly decreased dehydration prevalence from 3% to 1%, highlighting the importance of structured assessments in managing hydration in this population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Increasing fluid intake and reducing dehydration risk in older people living in long-term care: a systematic review. Bunn, D., Jimoh, F., Wilsher, SH., et al.[2022]

A study involving 92 college students found that drinking 1,600 mL of water per day improved mood and cognitive performance compared to drinking 800 mL, suggesting that higher fluid intake can enhance vigor and memory.

The optimal fluid intake behavior identified was consuming 200 mL of water 8 times a day, which was associated with better cognitive scores and lower mood disturbance, indicating that both the amount and frequency of water intake are important for mental well-being.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Influence of Fluid Intake Behavior on Cognition and Mood among College Students in Baoding, China. He, H., Zhang, JF., Zhang, N., et al.[2021]

The Nutrition Now campaign is introducing an online toolkit aimed at helping nurses and support staff promote increased water consumption among hospitalized patients.

This initiative is designed to improve patient hydration, which is crucial for recovery and overall health in hospital settings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Drink to good health. [2016]

In a study of 9,528 adults from the NHANES survey, those who were inadequately hydrated had significantly higher body mass indexes (BMIs) and were more likely to be classified as obese compared to those who were adequately hydrated.

The research suggests a strong link between hydration levels and weight status, indicating that improving hydration could be an important factor in weight management strategies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Inadequate Hydration, BMI, and Obesity Among US Adults: NHANES 2009-2012. Chang, T., Ravi, N., Plegue, MA., et al.[2022]

A study involving 60 participants revealed that many people have inconsistent water drinking habits, often only drinking in specific situations, which can lead to underhydration when those situations change.

Participants generally lacked knowledge about the importance of hydration and effective strategies to increase water intake, indicating a need for educational interventions to promote better hydration habits.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

"I know it's just pouring it from the tap, but it's not easy": Motivational processes that underlie water drinking. Rodger, A., Wehbe, LH., Papies, EK.[2021]

A study of 36 middle-aged male cyclists during a 164-km cycling event showed that regardless of their hydration status before the event, all groups experienced similar body mass loss and exercise times, indicating that hydration status may not significantly impact performance in this context.

Most cyclists recognized that dehydration negatively affects performance, but they relied more on personal experience and thirst cues rather than scientific recommendations for hydration, suggesting a need for individualized drinking plans tailored to their experiences during exercise.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Factors Associated with Pre-Event Hydration Status and Drinking Behavior of Middle-Aged Cyclists. Yates, BA., Ellis, LA., Butts, CL., et al.[2019]

Adequate hydration is crucial for health, but current dietary recommendations for water intake are often overlooked and lack strong scientific backing, leading to reliance on estimates from healthy populations.

Clinical studies indicate that both dehydration and overhydration can have negative health effects, yet there is a scarcity of robust research on hydration status measurement and its implications for physical and cognitive performance.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[The importance of water consumption in health and disease prevention: the current situation]. Salas Salvadó, J., Maraver Eizaguirre, F., Rodríguez-Mañas, L., et al.[2022]

A study of 3,397 US adults found that 7% reported no daily water consumption, and factors like age (55+), low fruit and vegetable intake, lack of exercise, and not actively trying to lose weight were linked to lower water intake.

Understanding these characteristics can help target interventions to encourage higher water consumption, which is important for hydration and weight management.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Behaviors and attitudes associated with low drinking water intake among US adults, Food Attitudes and Behaviors Survey, 2007. Goodman, AB., Blanck, HM., Sherry, B., et al.[2023]

Behavioral interventions significantly improved hydration in acutely unwell or institutionalized older adults, with participants consuming an average of 300.93 mL more fluid per day compared to usual care groups, based on a meta-analysis of 19 studies involving 978 participants.

Environmental, multifaceted, and nutritional interventions showed mixed results, highlighting the need for high-quality studies that use validated methods to assess hydration effectiveness in this population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Interventions to Improve Hydration in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Bruno, C., Collier, A., Holyday, M., et al.[2021]

In a study of 74 physically active elderly individuals in Portugal, less than 10% were found to be at risk of dehydration, indicating that most participants maintained adequate hydration status.

Food contributed nearly half of the total water intake (47% for women and 48% for men), highlighting the importance of water-rich foods and non-alcoholic beverages in hydration strategies, especially for men who had a significantly higher intake of alcoholic beverages.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Urinary hydration biomarkers and water sources in free-living elderly. Gonçalves, A., Silva, J., Moreira, P., et al.[2018]

The average adult man needs at least 2,900 mL and the average adult woman at least 2,200 mL of fluids daily to stay well-hydrated, with solid foods contributing significantly to this intake.

Chronic mild dehydration can impair physiological functions and is linked to various health issues, including urinary stone disease and certain cancers, highlighting the importance of monitoring fluid intake for overall health.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Water: an essential but overlooked nutrient. Kleiner, SM.[2013]

A quality improvement project at a Veterans Administration Hospital successfully increased hydration among geriatric psychiatry patients by implementing strategies like flavored water, larger cups, and increased nurse prompting, resulting in an average daily fluid intake increase of 700 mL, far exceeding the goal of 125 mL.

The interventions not only improved hydration in geriatric patients but also had positive effects on non-geriatric psychiatry in-patients, highlighting the broader applicability of the hydration strategies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An Innovative Approach to Adequate Oral Hydration in an Inpatient Geriatric Psychiatry Unit. Smith, M., Velasco, R., John, S., et al.[2019]

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