Childhood ObesityHC2NCT01722032
USDA Healthy Caregivers/Healthy Children: A Childhood Obesity Prevention Program
A study testing Childhood Obesity in people with Childhood Obesity, run by University of Miami.
Trial summary
Background: Many unhealthy dietary and physical activity habits that foster the development of obesity are established by the age of five. Presently, approximately 70 percent of children in the United States are currently enrolled in early childcare facilities, making this an ideal setting to implement and evaluate… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 2 to 5 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Childhood Obesity
- What is being tested?
- Childhood Obesity
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 1,100 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- Jun 2010to Sep 2012
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 2 to 5 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child
Inclusion Criteria. Centers must have met the following criteria to be included: (1) have > 30 children ages 2-5 enrolled; (2) Serve low income families who are a part of the USDA food program and SNAP eligible; (3) Reflect the ethnic distribution of the Miami-Dade County Public School System (63 percent Hispanic, 19 percent African American, 18 percent white); and (4) Center directors agree to participate and sign a letter of commitment. Studies were excluded if they did not meet these criteria.
About this study
Official title: Healthy Caregivers/Healthy Children
Background: Many unhealthy dietary and physical activity habits that foster the development of obesity are established by the age of five. Presently, approximately 70 percent of children in the United States are currently enrolled in early childcare facilities, making this an ideal setting to implement and evaluate childhood obesity prevention efforts. We describe here the methods for conducting an obesity prevention intervention randomized trial in the child care setting.
Methods/Design: A randomized, controlled obesity prevention trial in 28 low-income, ethnically diverse child care centers located throughout Miami-Dade County, FL is currently being conducted over two years (2010-present) to test the efficacy of an intervention that poises teachers and parents as lifestyle change agents. The Healthy Caregivers-Healthy Children (HC2) program includes a curriculum focusing specifically on healthy food choices, increased exercise, and role modeling. The program targets food policy changes throughout the school, and via the child, caregiver, and teacher. Major outcome measures include child body mass index percentile and z score, fruit and vegetable and other nutritious food intake, and amount of physical activity.
Read more
Discussion: Although few attempts have been made to prevent obesity during the first years of life, this period may represent the best opportunity for obesity prevention. Findings from this investigation should inform both the fields of childhood obesity prevention and early childhood research about the effects of an obesity prevention program housed in the childcare setting. (H1) A child care center-based obesity prevention intervention program that includes a teacher and parent nutritional gatekeeper and role modeling program will be more effective in maintaining BMI in 3-5 year olds compared to a control group.
(H2) Role modeling (teacher and parent) will be identified as a significant mediator in preventing obesity among intervention children versus controls.
(H3) A child care center-based multi-level obesity prevention intervention program will improve child nutrition (increased consumption of fruits and vegetables, decreased consumption of sweetened beverages) and increase physical activity level compared to a control group.
Read the detailed description
Over one third of preschoolers were either overweight (18.4%) or obese (16.5%). The majority (92%) of caregivers of an overweight/obese child inaccurately perceived that their child was in a normal BMI category. Foreign-born caregivers were significantly more likely to inaccurately perceive their child's BMI percentile category, versus US-born caregivers (OR=0.65, 95% CI, 0.48-0.88). Specifically, those born in South America [OR=0.59. 95% CI, 0.36-0.98), Central America/Mexico (OR=0.59, 95% CI,0.41-0.85), and Caribbean Hispanic nations [OR=0.54, 95% CI 0.35-0.83) were significantly less likely to accurately perceive their child's BMI category, versus US-born caregivers.
Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that foreign-born parents of preschool-age overweight/obese children in particular do not accurately perceive their child's BMI status. Pediatricians and other healthcare providers serving foreign-born caregivers may consider additional healthy weight counseling for these families.
- Conditions
- Childhood Obesity
- Being tested
- Childhood Obesity
- Keywords
- childhood obesity, early childhood, nutrition
- Medical subject headings
- Pediatric Obesity
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Childhood ObesityOther
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Treatment | Experimental | The intervention centers' menus were modified to include more fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, low-fat (1%) or skim milk, water, less juice, and less simple carbohydrate snacks. The centers were also encouraged to incorporate fresh fruits and vegetables as often as possible for snack and meal time.
Physical Activity. Physical activity was promoted for at least 60 minutes per day. TV viewing, watching movies and playing computer games were logged and limited to 30 minutes or less per day. Schools adopted "Best-Practice Policies". Receives: Other: Childhood Obesity |
| Control | No intervention | Those schools randomized to the control arm received a safety curriculum and some child care center locations received an attention control consisting of three visits from the University of Miami Safety Van which provided parents and teachers with home, car and child seat safety information. The control group received all the same pre-post measures as the intervention arms. They also received the same incentives as the intervention arms to foster involvement and ensure retention/reduce loss to follow up. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Maintenance of a Child's Body Mass Index as a result of the intervention
Assessment of demographic variables, anthropometrics, food insecurity and parent perception were performed. Sociodemographic variables included age and gender of the children, country of birth of parent and child, years living in the US, and parental education (highest grade completed).
Child Health Measures:Anthropometric Variables. Assessment of body composition included height (by stadiometer), weight (by digital scale), which was converted to BMI (weight in kilograms/height in meters squared) and then to a BMI age-and sex-adjusted BMI percentile. Participants were asked to remove shoes and any heavy outer clothing prior to measurement. Weight and height measurements were collected by trained staff based on US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) guidelines for accurate anthropomorphic measurement. Research grade stadiometers and scales were used, and were brought from site to site by the staff.
Measured: up to two years
Secondary outcomes (1)
A Parent's perception of his/her child's weight status
Caregiver Measures. To assess parent perception of child weight status, the child's actual weight status (determined by BMI percentile group) was compared to the caregivers' response to the question "Do you consider your child to be overweight, underweight or about right weight for (his/her) age?" Food insecurity was measured by the short form of the USDA's Food Security Scale. This information was obtained by means of a structured parent interview or a self-administered survey. Caregiver BMI was obtained by self reported height and weight included on the caregivers survey. Parent acculturation was measured by items from the Stephenson Acculturation Scale.
Measured: up to two years
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted6 Nov 2012 (estimated)
- Study startJun 2010
- Primary completionSep 2012
- Study completionSep 2012
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Childhood ObesityStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of MiamiThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 1,100 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Miami
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Stephanie Scott, University of Miami
- Investigators
- Ruby Natale, PhD, Principal investigator, University of Miami
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT01722032
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2009-05065
- Other IDs
- 2009
- Acronym
- HC2
- Status last verified
- Nov 2012
- First submitted
- 26 Oct 2012
- Last updated
- 6 Nov 2012
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
Publications
Natale R, Scott SH, Messiah SE, Schrack MM, Uhlhorn SB, Delamater A. Design and methods for evaluating an early childhood obesity prevention program in the childcare center setting. BMC Public Health. 2013 Jan 28;13:78. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-13-78.
PubMed 23356862
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 6 Nov 2012. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Healthy Caregivers/Healthy Children
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT01722032
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- HC2 / 2009-05065
- Conditions
- Childhood Obesity
- Keywords
- childhood obesity, early childhood, nutrition
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 1,100 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of MiamiUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Jun 2010
- Primary completion
- Sep 2012 (actual)
- Study completion
- Sep 2012 (actual)
- First posted
- 6 Nov 2012 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Background: Many unhealthy dietary and physical activity habits that foster the development of obesity are established by the age of five. Presently, approximately 70 percent of children in the United States are currently enrolled in early childcare facilities, making this an ideal setting to implement and evaluate childhood obesity prevention efforts. We describe here the methods for conducting an obesity prevention intervention randomized trial in the child care setting.
Methods/Design: A randomized, controlled obesity prevention trial in 28 low-income, ethnically diverse child care centers located throughout Miami-Dade County, FL is currently being conducted over two years (2010-present) to test the efficacy of an intervention that poises teachers and parents as lifestyle change agents. The Healthy Caregivers-Healthy Children (HC2) program includes a curriculum focusing specifically on healthy food choices, increased exercise, and role modeling. The program targets food policy changes throughout the school, and via the child, caregiver, and teacher. Major outcome measures include child body mass index percentile and z score, fruit and vegetable and other nutritious food intake, and amount of physical activity.
Discussion: Although few attempts have been made to prevent obesity during the first years of life, this period may represent the best opportunity for obesity prevention. Findings from this investigation should inform both the fields of childhood obesity prevention and early childhood research about the effects of an obesity prevention program housed in the childcare setting. (H1) A child care center-based obesity prevention intervention program that includes a teacher and parent nutritional gatekeeper and role modeling program will be more effective in maintaining BMI in 3-5 year olds compared to a control group.
(H2) Role modeling (teacher and parent) will be identified as a significant mediator in preventing obesity among intervention children versus controls.
(H3) A child care center-based multi-level obesity prevention intervention program will improve child nutrition (increased consumption of fruits and vegetables, decreased consumption of sweetened beverages) and increase physical activity level compared to a control group.
Detailed description
Over one third of preschoolers were either overweight (18.4%) or obese (16.5%). The majority (92%) of caregivers of an overweight/obese child inaccurately perceived that their child was in a normal BMI category. Foreign-born caregivers were significantly more likely to inaccurately perceive their child's BMI percentile category, versus US-born caregivers (OR=0.65, 95% CI, 0.48-0.88). Specifically, those born in South America [OR=0.59. 95% CI, 0.36-0.98), Central America/Mexico (OR=0.59, 95% CI,0.41-0.85), and Caribbean Hispanic nations [OR=0.54, 95% CI 0.35-0.83) were significantly less likely to accurately perceive their child's BMI category, versus US-born caregivers.
Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that foreign-born parents of preschool-age overweight/obese children in particular do not accurately perceive their child's BMI status. Pediatricians and other healthcare providers serving foreign-born caregivers may consider additional healthy weight counseling for these families.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Treatment | Experimental | Other: Childhood ObesityThe intervention centers' menus were modified to include more fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, low-fat (1%) or skim milk, water, less juice, and less simple carbohydrate snacks. The centers were also encouraged to incorporate fresh fruits and vegetables as often as possible for snack and meal time. Physical Activity. Physical activity was promoted for at least 60 minutes per day. TV viewing, watching movies and playing computer games were logged and limited to 30 minutes or less per day. Schools adopted "Best-Practice Policies". |
| Control | No intervention | –Those schools randomized to the control arm received a safety curriculum and some child care center locations received an attention control consisting of three visits from the University of Miami Safety Van which provided parents and teachers with home, car and child seat safety information. The control group received all the same pre-post measures as the intervention arms. They also received the same incentives as the intervention arms to foster involvement and ensure retention/reduce loss to follow up. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 2 to 5 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Childhood Obesity | Other | Treatment |
Primary outcome
Maintenance of a Child's Body Mass Index as a result of the intervention
Time frame: up to two years
Assessment of demographic variables, anthropometrics, food insecurity and parent perception were performed. Sociodemographic variables included age and gender of the children, country of birth of parent and child, years living in the US, and parental education (highest grade completed). Child Health Measures:Anthropometric Variables. Assessment of body composition included height (by stadiometer), weight (by digital scale), which was converted to BMI (weight in kilograms/height in meters squared) and then to a BMI age-and sex-adjusted BMI percentile. Participants were asked to remove shoes and any heavy outer clothing prior to measurement. Weight and height measurements were collected by trained staff based on US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) guidelines for accurate anthropomorphic measurement. Research grade stadiometers and scales were used, and were brought from site to site by the staff.
1 secondary outcome
A Parent's perception of his/her child's weight status
Time frame: up to two years
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 6 Nov 2012.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 23356862Natale R, Scott SH, Messiah SE, Schrack MM, Uhlhorn SB, Delamater A. Design and methods for evaluating an early childhood obesity prevention program in the childcare center setting. BMC Public Health. 2013 Jan 28;13:78. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-13-78.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Ruby Natale, PhD principal investigator
University of Miami
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Childhood Obesity in people with Childhood Obesity, run by University of Miami.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 6 Nov 2012. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Maintenance of a Child's Body Mass Index as a result of the intervention (time frame: up to two years). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT01722032, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 6 Nov 2012; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 8 Nov 2026.