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

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

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

What data supports the effectiveness of the HomeStyles-2 treatment for childhood obesity?

The HomeStyles program, which is similar to HomeStyles-2, has shown to improve family meal and diet-related behaviors, increase physical activity, reduce screen time, and boost parents' confidence in promoting healthy habits in preschool children. These positive changes suggest that HomeStyles-2 may also help families with children in middle childhood adopt healthier lifestyles. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is the HomeStyles-2 Program for Childhood Obesity safe for humans?

The available research on the HomeStyles and HomeStyles-2 programs focuses on promoting healthy home environments and improving lifestyle behaviors, with no reported safety concerns for participants. These programs have been used in families with children to encourage better nutrition and physical activity habits. ^{1 2 3 5 6}

How is the HomeStyles-2 treatment for childhood obesity different from other treatments?

HomeStyles-2 is unique because it focuses on reshaping the home environment and family lifestyle to support healthy eating and physical activity, rather than just targeting the child alone. It aims to improve the quality of life for the whole family, making it a holistic approach to preventing childhood obesity. ^{1 2 3 5 7}

What is the purpose of this trial?

Parents are children's primary role models, are food and physical activity gatekeepers, and create the structure/lifestyle environment within the home. Thus, parents strongly influence children's weight-related behaviors and have the opportunity to cultivate a "culture of health" within the home. Yet, there continues to be a dearth of evidence-based obesity prevention intervention programs, especially for families with children aged 6 to 11 years, commonly called the middle childhood years. The aim of the HomeStyles-2 online learning mode RCT is to determine whether this novel, age-appropriate, family intervention enables and motivates parents to shape their home environments and weight-related lifestyle practices (i.e., diet, exercise, sleep) to be more supportive of optimal health and reduced risk of obesity in their middle childhood youth more than those in the control condition. The RCT will include the experimental group and an attention control group who will engage in a bona fide concurrent treatment different in subject matter but equal in nonspecific treatment effects. The participants will be families with school-age children who are systematically randomly assigned by computer to study condition. The HomeStyles intervention is predicated on the social cognitive theory and a social ecological framework. The RCT will collect sociodemographic characteristics of the participant, child, and partner/spouse; child and parent health status; parent weight-related cognitions; weight-related behaviors of the parent and child; and weight-related characteristics of the home environment. Enrollment for this study will begin mid-2021.This paper describes these aspects of the HomeStyles-2 intervention: rationale; sample eligibility criteria and recruitment; study design; experimental group intervention theoretical and philosophical underpinnings, structure, content, and development process; attention control intervention; survey instrument development and components; outcome measures; and planned analyses.

Research Team

Carol Byrd-Bredbenner, PhD

Principal Investigator

Rutgers Universitiy

Eligibility Criteria

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

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)

Treatment Details

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.

Participant Groups

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+

Findings from Research

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]

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 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]

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 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]

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]

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]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

HomeStyles-2 for SNAP-Ed families with children in middle childhood: Cluster randomized trial protocol. [2022]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Promoting healthy home environments and lifestyles in families with preschool children: HomeStyles, a randomized controlled trial. [2019]

3. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

"If my family is happy, then I am happy": Quality-of-life determinants of parents of school-age children. [2022]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A systematic review of home-based childhood obesity prevention studies. [2022]

5. England 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. [2022]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Prevention and Treatment of Pediatric Obesity: A Strategy Involving Children, Adolescents and the Family for Improved Body Composition. [2019]

7. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Guelph Family Health Study: pilot study of a home-based obesity prevention intervention. [2022]