HomeStyles-2 Program for Childhood Obesity

(HomeStyles-2 Trial)

Overseen By Virginia Quick, PhD

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Disqualifiers: Does not fit inclusion criteria

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 11

Duration: 8 weeks

269 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

The trial aims to help parents create healthier home environments to support their children's well-being and reduce the risk of obesity. It targets families with children aged 6 to 11, teaching parents about nutrition, exercise, and healthy routines through an online program. Participants will join either the "Healthy HomeStyles" group, which addresses diet and lifestyle, or the "Safe HomeStyles" group, which focuses on home safety topics. Families with children in middle childhood, where parents are the main decision-makers for food and have internet access, might be a good fit. As an unphased trial, this study offers families the opportunity to actively contribute to research that could enhance children's health and well-being.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research has shown that the HomeStyles-2 program helps families create healthier home environments to prevent childhood obesity. It offers practical tips on nutrition, exercise, and sleep. In a previous study, families found the program very helpful, with 96% of participants reporting high satisfaction. This suggests the program is practical and easy to follow.

The trial for HomeStyles-2 is labeled as "Not Applicable," meaning it doesn't require the same safety evidence as drug trials. Since this is an educational program focused on lifestyle changes, the risks are very low. No reports of negative effects have emerged, and the program mainly provides online advice for healthier living. This indicates the program is safe and well-received by participants. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the HomeStyles-2 program because it takes a holistic, family-focused approach to preventing childhood obesity. Unlike traditional treatments that might focus solely on diet or physical activity, this program addresses a range of lifestyle factors, including nutrition, meal habits, physical activity, and sleep. By providing online educational tools, it empowers families to make sustainable lifestyle changes together, which is a fresh take on tackling obesity. Moreover, the program also includes an active comparator arm that focuses on home safety, which indirectly supports healthier living environments. This dual focus on health and safety in the home setting is what sets it apart from conventional treatments.

What evidence suggests that the HomeStyles-2 program is effective for preventing childhood obesity?

Research has shown that the HomeStyles-2 program can improve family health by addressing childhood obesity. In this trial, participants will join one of two treatment arms. The "Healthy HomeStyles" arm focuses on enhancing children's health and nutritional habits, such as increasing fruit and vegetable intake, having more family meals, reducing sugary drink consumption, and boosting physical activity. Early results indicate positive changes in these areas. Meanwhile, the "Safe HomeStyles" arm addresses home safety issues, including indoor air quality and food safety. Previous tests of the program revealed high participant satisfaction and significant health improvements. This suggests that HomeStyles-2 could effectively promote healthier lifestyles for children and their families. ^{2 3 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Carol Byrd-Bredbenner, PhD

Principal Investigator

Rutgers Universitiy

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for parents aged 24-50 in the U.S. with a child aged 6-11, who make most family food choices and have regular internet access. They must be able to read English/Spanish. It's not for those outside this group.

Inclusion Criteria

Have regular Internet access

Read English and/or Spanish

Reside in the United States

Exclusion Criteria

Does not fit inclusion criteria

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1 week

1 visit (virtual)

Treatment

Participants receive weekly intervention materials for 8 weeks, focusing on shaping home environments and weight-related lifestyle practices.

8 weeks

8 visits (virtual)

Post-intervention Assessment

Participants complete a post-intervention survey to assess the effects of the intervention.

1 week

1 visit (virtual)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for longer-term intervention effects through a follow-up survey.

4 weeks

1 visit (virtual)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• HomeStyles-2: Obesity Prevention Program for Families with Children in Middle Childhood

Trial Overview

HomeStyles-2 is an online program testing if it can help parents create healthier home environments and lifestyle habits (diet, exercise, sleep) to prevent obesity in their kids during middle childhood compared to a control group.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Healthy HomeStyles Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Online educational intervention addressing salient factors affecting school-age children's health and nutritional status: inadequate intake of fruits and vegetables, infrequent family meals, excessive consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, large portion sizes, irregular breakfast consumption, limited physical activity, and inadequate sleep as well as children's limited food preparation skills.

Group II: Safe HomeStyles Active Control 1 Intervention

Online educational intervention addressing aspects of home safety issues, such as indoor air quality, mold \& moisture, hazardous household products, carbon monoxide, home safety, foodborne illness, and refrigerator temperatures.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Lead Sponsor

Trials

471

Recruited

81,700+

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Collaborator

Trials

103

Recruited

287,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A home-based obesity prevention intervention for families with young children showed feasibility and high satisfaction, with 96% of participants providing outcome data after 6 months.

Children in the groups receiving more home visits (4HV and 2HV) had increased fruit intake and lower fat mass compared to the control group, indicating potential benefits in dietary habits and weight management.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Guelph Family Health Study: pilot study of a home-based obesity prevention intervention. Haines, J., Douglas, S., Mirotta, JA., et al.[2022]

The ProActive Kids Foundation's early intervention program significantly improved body composition in 884 overweight and obese youth aged 5 to 17 over an 8-week period, demonstrating effective weight management strategies.

Involving families in the program, which included education on mental health, nutrition, and physical activity, led to sustainable improvements in weight, body fat, and BMI, highlighting the importance of a supportive environment in tackling pediatric obesity.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Prevention and Treatment of Pediatric Obesity: A Strategy Involving Children, Adolescents and the Family for Improved Body Composition. Moxley, E., Habtzghi, D., Klinkhamer, N., et al.[2019]

The HomeStyles intervention significantly improved family meal and diet-related behaviors, as well as self-efficacy for obesity-preventive practices among 172 families with preschool children, compared to a control group.

Parents in the experimental group also showed increased physical activity and reduced screen time, indicating that the program effectively promoted healthier lifestyle choices, although the overall effect sizes were small.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Promoting healthy home environments and lifestyles in families with preschool children: HomeStyles, a randomized controlled trial. Byrd-Bredbenner, C., Martin-Biggers, J., Povis, GA., et al.[2019]

A pilot home-based intervention aimed at preventing childhood obesity showed that parents with a higher baseline BMI (≥25 kg/m²) experienced significant reductions in body mass and waist circumference after 6 and 18 months, compared to a control group.

Parents with a lower baseline BMI (<25 kg/m²) also benefited from the intervention, with the 4 home visits group showing reduced fat mass and the 2 home visits group showing lower body mass and BMI at the 6-month mark, although these effects were not sustained at 18 months.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A randomized home-based childhood obesity prevention pilot intervention has favourable effects on parental body composition: preliminary evidence from the Guelph Family Health Study. Krystia, O., Ambrose, T., Darlington, G., et al.[2022]

A systematic review of 6 studies on home-based interventions for childhood obesity found that while some interventions improved dietary habits and reduced sedentary behaviors, none showed a significant impact on weight outcomes.

The overall strength of evidence supporting the effectiveness of these home-based interventions for preventing obesity in children is low, indicating a need for further research, especially focusing on parenting strategies and environmental factors.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A systematic review of home-based childhood obesity prevention studies. Showell, NN., Fawole, O., Segal, J., et al.[2022]

A focus group study with 158 parents of school-aged children identified key quality-of-life factors, such as family happiness and health, that influence their perspectives on obesity prevention.

Incorporating these parent-defined quality-of-life determinants into health messaging and interventions may enhance engagement and improve health behaviors related to obesity prevention.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

"If my family is happy, then I am happy": Quality-of-life determinants of parents of school-age children. Eck, KM., Delaney, CL., Olfert, MD., et al.[2022]

The HomeStyles-2 program aims to motivate parents of children aged 6-11 to improve their home environments and lifestyle practices related to nutrition and physical activity, potentially leading to better weight management for their children.

This study, conducted as a cluster randomized trial with SNAP-Ed participants, will evaluate the effectiveness of the HomeStyles-2 intervention, including adaptations for virtual delivery due to the COVID-19 pandemic, providing insights into the future of nutrition education programs.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

HomeStyles-2 for SNAP-Ed families with children in middle childhood: Cluster randomized trial protocol. Carman, K., O'Neal, LJ., Byrd-Bredbenner, C., et al.[2022]

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HomeStyles-2 Program for Childhood Obesity

A home-based obesity prevention intervention for families with young children showed feasibility and high satisfaction, with 96% of participants providing ...