Parenting Program for Childhood Obesity

Overseen By Olivia de Jongh, PhD

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of British Columbia

Disqualifiers: Pediatric weight management, Nutritional program, Severe dietary restrictions, Severe physical limitations

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: 10

Duration: 8 weeks

118 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a new mobile app designed to help parents establish healthy habits for their young children, focusing on improved eating and increased physical activity. The app, part of the "Good Start Matters - Parenting intervention," promotes positive parenting techniques to support a healthier lifestyle and aims to reduce children's screen time. Families with children aged 2.5 to 6 years who attend certain childcare centers might be suitable candidates, especially if they have a smartphone to use the app. Families already participating in weight or nutrition programs, or with children who have severe dietary or physical limitations, are not eligible. As an unphased trial, this study offers families a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative research that could shape healthier futures for children.

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 parenting program is safe for children?

Research shows that families respond positively to the Good Start Matters - Parenting program. This program, a mobile app, helps parents promote healthy habits to manage childhood obesity. Without involving medication, it carries a very low risk of side effects. Instead, it emphasizes building healthy habits through supportive parenting. This approach is safe, focusing on behavior changes rather than medical treatments. Participants can trust that the program is safe and aims to enhance family relationships and healthy lifestyle choices. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Good Start Matters Parenting intervention because it tackles childhood obesity by focusing on parents, rather than directly on the children. Unlike traditional treatments that often emphasize diet and exercise programs for kids, this intervention uses a mobile app to deliver parenting strategies over two months. This method empowers parents to create healthier home environments, potentially leading to more sustainable lifestyle changes for their children.

What evidence suggests that the Good Start Matters - Parenting intervention is effective for childhood obesity?

Research has shown that family-based programs can greatly help reduce childhood obesity. A previous study found that children in these programs experienced a significant decrease in their Body Mass Index (BMI). In this trial, participants in the experimental arm will receive the Good Start Matters - Parenting intervention, a mobile health program designed to promote healthier eating and increased physical activity. It also focuses on reducing screen time and encouraging positive parenting. These strategies have proven effective in supporting healthier habits in children, making this program a promising approach to addressing childhood obesity. ^{1 2 3 4 6}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Louise Masse, PhD

Principal Investigator

University Of British Columbia & BC Children's Hospital Research Institute

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for parents who are the primary caregivers of children aged 2.5 to 5 years, attending a childcare center involved in the study. Parents must speak English fluently and have access to a smartphone for communication and app use. Families already in weight management or nutritional programs, or those with children having severe physical limitations or dietary restrictions, cannot participate.

Inclusion Criteria

My child is between 2.5 and 5 years old and attends a childcare center.

Parents must be the primary caregiver/legal guardian of an eligible child OR share childrearing responsibilities with an already enrolled primary caregiver/legal guardian of an eligible child

Parents must be fluent in English

Exclusion Criteria

My child can follow general nutritional guidelines for their age.

Parents and children currently participating in a pediatric weight management program or in a nutritional program are not eligible

My child cannot follow typical movement guidelines due to severe physical limitations.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive the Good Start Matters - Parenting intervention via a mobile app for 2 months

8 weeks

App-based intervention, no in-person visits

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in parenting practices and child health behaviors after intervention

2 weeks

Assessment at 10 weeks post-intervention

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Good Start Matters - Parenting intervention

Trial Overview The 'Good Start Matters - Parenting' program is being tested over two months using mobile health technology to improve parenting practices that support healthy child behaviors such as nutrition, physical activity levels, and reduced screen time.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Good Start Matters Parenting intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The intervention group will receive immediate access to the app where the Good Start Matters - Parenting intervention will be delivered over a 2-months period.

Group II: Control Active Control 1 Intervention

The control group will not receive access to the intervention until they complete the follow-up measures (after 10 weeks).

Good Start Matters - Parenting intervention is already approved in Canada for the following indications:

Approved in Canada as Good Start Matters - Parenting Program for:

• Prevention of childhood obesity
• Promotion of healthy eating and active behaviors in children

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of British Columbia

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,506

Recruited

2,528,000+

Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research

Collaborator

Trials

20

Recruited

6,100+

BC Children's Hospital Research Institute

Collaborator

Trials

14

Recruited

2,800+

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

Collaborator

Trials

1,417

Recruited

26,550,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

The Healthy School Start Plus intervention, involving 352 six-year-old children across 17 schools, aims to prevent obesity by promoting healthy eating and physical activity through parental involvement and support from teachers and school nurses.

This 6-month program is based on Social Cognitive Theory and includes health information for parents, motivational interviewing, classroom activities, and a web-based diabetes risk self-test, with the expectation that it will be more effective than standard care in improving children's dietary habits and physical activity.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Healthy School Start Plus for prevention of childhood overweight and obesity in disadvantaged areas through parental support in the school setting - study protocol for a parallel group cluster randomised trial. Elinder, LS., Patterson, E., Nyberg, G., et al.[2019]

A workplace-based parenting program, Parents Working Together (PWT), was found to be feasible and well-received, with high attendance rates (89% attending 5 or more sessions) and positive feedback from participants, including a notable engagement of fathers (55.6%).

While the program showed promise in changing weight-related behaviors among children and parents, the results were not statistically significant, indicating the need for a larger trial to fully assess its effectiveness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Parents Working Together: development and feasibility trial of a workplace-based program for parents that incorporates general parenting and health behaviour messages. Wilson, L., Lero, D., Smofsky, A., et al.[2018]

The Healthy Start intervention, lasting 15 months, successfully increased the total time spent on sports and outdoor activities among normal weight but obesity-prone preschool children, with the intervention group averaging 400 minutes per week compared to 321 minutes in the control group.

While the intervention improved overall physical activity levels, it did not show significant effects on specific categories like sports participation or screen time, indicating that while the program was effective in increasing general activity, it may need refinement to target specific behaviors.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of the Healthy Start randomized intervention trial on physical activity among normal weight preschool children predisposed to overweight and obesity. Händel, MN., Larsen, SC., Rohde, JF., et al.[2018]

Head Start programs recognize the importance of communicating children's weight status to families, but there are inconsistencies in the methods and information shared across different programs, highlighting a need for standardized communication practices.

Interviews with health and nutrition managers revealed challenges in engaging families in obesity prevention efforts, suggesting that while community partnerships exist, they may not be fully utilized to support these initiatives.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Communicating With Head Start Families About Children's Weight Status: A Phenomenological Approach. Shefet, D., Miller, ME., Nicely, S., et al.[2023]

A new parenting questionnaire was validated in a study of 558 participants, revealing two key dimensions of parenting: setting limits for children and regulating emotions during interactions, both linked to effective feeding practices.

In a 12-month obesity treatment trial with 174 children, while mothers improved their limit-setting skills, and fathers enhanced their emotional regulation, these changes did not lead to significant improvements in child weight status, indicating that parenting practices alone may not directly influence treatment outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Parenting and childhood obesity: Validation of a new questionnaire and evaluation of treatment effects during the preschool years. Somaraki, M., Ek, A., Eli, K., et al.[2021]

The Group Lifestyle Triple P program significantly reduced child BMI z scores and weight-related problem behaviors in a study involving 101 families over 12 weeks.

Parents reported increased confidence in managing their children's weight-related behaviors and reduced use of inconsistent or coercive parenting practices, with these benefits maintained at a one-year follow-up.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Randomised clinical trial of a family-based lifestyle intervention for childhood obesity involving parents as the exclusive agents of change. West, F., Sanders, MR., Cleghorn, GJ., et al.[2022]

A literature review of seven studies found that interventions focusing on general parenting can lead to small to moderate improvements in weight-related outcomes for children, highlighting the importance of parenting in addressing childhood obesity.

The review suggests that promoting authoritative parenting styles, combined with lifestyle changes like physical activity and nutrition, is an effective strategy for preventing and managing childhood obesity.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Interventions addressing general parenting to prevent or treat childhood obesity. Gerards, SM., Sleddens, EF., Dagnelie, PC., et al.[2011]

A family-based intervention program targeting both parents and children resulted in significant long-term reductions in BMI-standard deviation score (BMI-SDS) after 2 years, indicating its effectiveness in addressing childhood obesity.

While both intervention groups (parents-only and parents-and-child) showed short-term improvements in BMI-SDS after 3 months, only the parents-and-child group maintained significant reductions at the 2-year follow-up, suggesting that involving children in the intervention may enhance its efficacy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Intervention for childhood obesity based on parents only or parents and child compared with follow-up alone. Yackobovitch-Gavan, M., Wolf Linhard, D., Nagelberg, N., et al.[2019]

In a pilot study involving 50 families with overweight children, a parent-led cognitive behavioral intervention resulted in a significant decrease in adjusted BMI over 6 months, while the control group showed no significant change until they received the intervention.

Both groups of children demonstrated a 7% decrease in adjusted BMI at the one-year follow-up, contrasting with an increase in BMI in a reference group, indicating the potential effectiveness of parental involvement in improving children's weight and eating behaviors.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Training parents of overweight children in parenting skills: a 12-month evaluation. Moens, E., Braet, C.[2022]

The 'Parents as Agents of Change' (PAC) intervention was developed using Intervention Mapping principles, focusing on a 16-session program for parents of children aged 8-12 with obesity, addressing individual, family, and environmental factors.

The intervention was successfully implemented in a multidisciplinary weight management center, demonstrating a structured approach to developing evidence-based strategies for managing pediatric obesity.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Using Intervention Mapping to develop the Parents as Agents of Change (PAC&#169;) intervention for managing pediatric obesity. Ball, GD., Mushquash, AR., Keaschuk, RA., et al.[2022]

A patient-centered decision tool was developed to help address childhood obesity by identifying common goals between parents and healthcare providers, based on qualitative interviews with 44 parents and focus groups with 81 participants.

The tool, which includes a modified growth chart and sections for discussing patient-centered goals, was found to be acceptable and potentially useful, highlighting the importance of engaging families in obesity interventions for Latino children.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Developing a patient-centered outcome for targeting early childhood obesity across multiple stakeholders. Foster, BA., Winkler, P., Weinstein, K., et al.[2022]

Citations

1. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41129815/

The Good Start Matters mHealth Parenting Program Conclusions: This study will provide critical insights into the efficacy of mHealth interventions to improve parenting and coparenting practices ...

2. researchprotocols.org researchprotocols.org/2025/1/e72642

The Good Start Matters mHealth Parenting Program Conclusions: This study will provide critical insights into the efficacy of mHealth interventions to improve parenting and coparenting practices ...

3. trialx.com trialx.com/clinical-trials/listings/291744/the-good-start-matters-parenting-program/

The Good Start Matters - Parenting Program This Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) evaluates the efficacy of the Good Start Matters - Parenting intervention, a mobile-Health (mHealth) ...

4. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-parenting-practices-3-2023-5426b

Parenting Program for Childhood Obesity A family-based intervention program targeting both parents and children resulted in significant long-term reductions in BMI-standard deviation score (BMI-SDS) ...

5. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/395684998_The_Good_Start_Matters_mHealth_Parenting_Program_for_Childhood_Obesity_Protocol_for_a_Randomized_Controlled_Trial_Preprint

The Good Start Matters mHealth Parenting Program for ... Family-based interventions are a cornerstone of childhood obesity prevention but often yield modest effects and have several limitations, ...

6. clinicaltrial.be clinicaltrial.be/en/details/263945?per_page=100&only_recruiting=0&only_eligible=0

The Good Start Matters - Parenting Program - Clinical Tri... This Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) evaluates the efficacy of the Good Start Matters - Parenting intervention, a mobile-Health (mHealth) ...