Obesity, ChildhoodMAPPNCT06520072
Mobile Apps for Preschool Parents (MAPP) Study
A study testing Children Eating Well (CHEW) mobile app and Beanstalk mobile app in people with Obesity, Childhood and Nutrition, Healthy, run by Pamela Hull at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The purpose of Mobile Apps for Preschool Parents (MAPP) Study is to test the effectiveness of two mobile applications for parents of preschool aged children: 1) an app focused on child and family nutrition and wellness, and 2) an app focused on parents reading to their children. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 99 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Obesity, Childhood, Nutrition, Healthy, Physical Inactivity
- What is being tested?
- Children Eating Well (CHEW) mobile app and Beanstalk mobile app
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine, Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 224 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 1 Aug 2024to 19 Nov 2024
- 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 18 to 99 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Parent/Guardian (age 18+ years) of a 2-5 year old
- Living in United States
- Receives services at partner community organization (Organization Sample only)
Who cannot join
- Does not own iOS/Apple or Android mobile device (phone or tablet)
- Does not have internet access for the mobile device (data plan on device or in-home WiFi)
- Not able to successfully load and access the Intervention Arm or Attention Control Arm mobile app on the mobile device at the time of enrollment
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
The purpose of Mobile Apps for Preschool Parents (MAPP) Study is to test the effectiveness of two mobile applications for parents of preschool aged children: 1) an app focused on child and family nutrition and wellness, and 2) an app focused on parents reading to their children.
Read the detailed description
The Mobile Apps for Preschool Parents (MAPP) Study addresses an important gap in the scientific literature, which is the need to evaluate the use of parent-targeted, guided goal-setting for childhood obesity risk reduction via a mobile application, specifically for parents of preschool-aged children for early intervention.
Obesity is a leading cause of multiple chronic diseases, including 13 types of cancer, heart disease, stroke, and type II diabetes. Major behavioral determinants of obesity are also independent risk factors for these chronic diseases, including unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity, and poor sleep quality. Childhood obesity increases risk for adult obesity and early onset of conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, asthma, sleep apnea, and joint problems. Childhood obesity disproportionately affects children of lower socioeconomic status, racial/ethnic minority groups, and rural areas, thus exacerbating and contributing to health disparities among obesity-related health conditions. Children in low-income families that qualify for income-based public assistance programs represent a population that is at high risk for obesity. These programs include the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Supplemental Nutrition Program; Head Start (preschool child care centers); the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF); and Medicaid.
With the Attention Control Arm, the MAPP Study will also contribute valuable information about the effectiveness of using a mobile application with parent-targeted, guided goal-setting for reading to preschool-aged children. Previous studies have shown that adults reading to children is beneficial for child learning and development.
All parents/guardians (both samples and both arms) will be asked to use the respective apps for an 8-week intervention period. The primary outcome will be measured in the Baseline Survey and a Follow Up Survey after completing the 8-week intervention period. After completion of the Follow Up Survey, parents/guardians will be given the option to download and use the other app, if they are interested (i.e., information about the CHEW app for the Control Arm, and information about the Control app for the Intervention Arm). For both the Intervention Arm and those who choose to download the CHEW app in the Control Arm, usage of the CHEW app (i.e., app analytics) will be tracked for up to 20 weeks after the date of study enrollment.
- Being tested
- Children Eating Well (CHEW) mobile app, Beanstalk mobile app
- Keywords
- Mobile Application, Preschool children, Parents, Parenting, Reading
- Medical subject headings
- Pediatric Obesity, Sedentary Behavior, Sleep Deprivation
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Children Eating Well (CHEW) mobile appBehavioural
The target users of the CHEW app are parents/guardians of preschool aged children. The purpose of the CHEW app is to provide parents/guardians with easy, practical ways to improve nutrition and wellness among their preschool-aged children. The app provides guided goal setting and tracking tools. Parents/guardians set goals related to their preschool-aged children focused on nutrition, physical activity, sleep behaviors and parenting styles. The parents/guardians can also to set goals for themselves for behaviors related to nutrition, physical activity, sleep, and stress. The app does not have features that target children as users.
The CHEW app was developed by the study team and can be downloaded for mobile devices (phones or tablets) at no cost in the Apple App Store (iOS/Apple) and the Google Play Store (Android). After downloading the CHEW app, enrolled participants must enter the Access Code provided by the study team in order to unlock the app and use it.
Beanstalk mobile appBehavioural
Also called Alternative: Bookroo mobile app
Beanstack is free commercially-available mobile app that provides goal setting and tracking tools similar to the CHEW app, but focused on a different topic, specifically encouraging parents/guardians to read to their preschool children more frequently. In the case that a parent/guardian is not able to successfully download Beanstack to their mobile device, as a backup alternative they will be asked to use a similar free commercially-available mobile application called Bookroo.
Beanstack is available to the public for mobile devices (phones or tablets) at no cost in the Apple App Store (iOS/Apple) and the Google Play Store (Android). Bookroo is a web-based application that users access via the mobile device's web browser and looks and functions like a regular mobile application. It should work on any mobile device with a browser and data/wifi access,
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention Arm: Nutrition and wellness app | Experimental | The parents/guardians in this study arm will use the Children Eating Well (CHEW) mobile app focused on child and family nutrition and wellness for the first 8 weeks of the study. This app is designed to help parents/guardians of preschool-aged children to improve nutrition, physical activity, sleep, feeding children at mealtimes, and related wellness topics. Receives: Behavioral: Children Eating Well (CHEW) mobile app |
| Attention Control Arm: Reading app | Active comparator | The parents/guardians this study arm will use the Beanstack mobile app (or the Bookroo app, as an alternative) focused on parents reading to their children for the first 8 weeks of the study. This app may help parents/guardians to read more to their preschool children (and other children), which is good for child learning and development. Receives: Behavioral: Beanstalk mobile app |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Healthy Kids childhood obesity risk score
Using the 19-item Healthy Kids scale, each item is coded from 1 to 5, with 1 being the least healthful and 5 being the most healthful. To calculate the childhood obesity risk score, all 19 items are summed together, ranging from 19 to 95, with higher values reflecting a more healthful, or positive, outcome.
Measured: 2 months
Secondary outcomes (13)
Child intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (Healthy Kids items)
Child intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (Healthy Kids items)
Measured: 2 months
Child intake of fruits and vegetables (Healthy Kids items)
Child intake of fruits and vegetables (Healthy Kids items)
Measured: 2 months
Child intake of energy dense food/beverages (Healthy Kids items)
Child intake of energy dense food/beverages (Healthy Kids items)
Measured: 2 months
Child intake of dairy/calcium (Healthy Kids items)
Child intake of dairy/calcium (Healthy Kids items)
Measured: 2 months
Child physical activity and sedentary behavior (Healthy Kids items)
Child physical activity and sedentary behavior (Healthy Kids items)
Measured: 2 months
Sleep: Child bedtime (Healthy Kids item)
Child bedtime (Healthy Kids item)
Measured: 2 months
Family meals: Eating meals with child (Healthy Kids item)
Eating meals with child (Healthy Kids item)
Measured: 2 months
Child dietary intake (Healthy Kids items)
Child dietary intake (Healthy Kids items)
Measured: 2 months
Diet quality: Variety of child vegetable intake (My Veggies questionnaire)
Variety of child vegetable intake (My Veggies questionnaire)
Measured: 2 months
My Child at Mealtime questionnaire
My Child at Mealtime questionnaire measures food-related parenting styles.
Measured: 2 months
Home Inventory Describing Eating and Activity (Home-IDEA2, food section)
Home Inventory Describing Eating and Activity (Home-IDEA2, food section) measures home food environment.
Measured: 2 months
Frequency of reading to child
Frequency of reading to child
Measured: 2 months
Length of time reading to child
Length of time reading to child
Measured: 2 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted25 Jul 2024
- Study start1 Aug 2024
- Primary completion19 Nov 2024
- Study completion19 Nov 2024
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Obesity, ChildhoodStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- 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
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- 1. The ORGANIZATION SAMPLE has a 2-arm parallel cluster-randomized control trial design, with an attention control design. The clusters are the partner community-based organizations where participants are recruited/enrolled by study staff. The cluster is the level of randomization (not individuals). 2. The INDIVIDUAL SAMPLE has a 2-arm parallel randomized control trial design, with an attention control design. The individual parent/guardian as the level of randomization (no clusters). After completing the Baseline Survey (Parts 1 and 2), each individual parent/guardian will be randomized to the Intervention Arm or Control Arm. Both: Parents/guardians will be asked to use the assigned app for 8-weeks. Next, they will complete the Follow Up Survey, then they have the option to download the other app, if interested. For both arms, usage of the CHEW app will be tracked for up to 20 weeks after the date of study enrollment.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 224 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Pamela Hull
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Pamela Hull, University of Kentucky
- Investigators
- Pamela C Hull, PhD, Principal investigator, University of Kentucky
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06520072
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 93603
- Other IDs
- 2017-68001-34846, 2017
- Acronym
- MAPP
- Status last verified
- May 2026
- First submitted
- 22 Jul 2024
- Last updated
- 3 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 3 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Mobile Apps for Preschool Parents (MAPP) Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06520072
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- MAPP / 93603
- Keywords
- Mobile Application, Preschool children, Parents, Parenting, Reading
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 224 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Pamela HullUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- Study start
- 1 Aug 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 19 Nov 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 19 Nov 2024 (actual)
- First posted
- 25 Jul 2024 (actual)
- 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.
The purpose of Mobile Apps for Preschool Parents (MAPP) Study is to test the effectiveness of two mobile applications for parents of preschool aged children: 1) an app focused on child and family nutrition and wellness, and 2) an app focused on parents reading to their children.
Detailed description
The Mobile Apps for Preschool Parents (MAPP) Study addresses an important gap in the scientific literature, which is the need to evaluate the use of parent-targeted, guided goal-setting for childhood obesity risk reduction via a mobile application, specifically for parents of preschool-aged children for early intervention.
Obesity is a leading cause of multiple chronic diseases, including 13 types of cancer, heart disease, stroke, and type II diabetes. Major behavioral determinants of obesity are also independent risk factors for these chronic diseases, including unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity, and poor sleep quality. Childhood obesity increases risk for adult obesity and early onset of conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, asthma, sleep apnea, and joint problems. Childhood obesity disproportionately affects children of lower socioeconomic status, racial/ethnic minority groups, and rural areas, thus exacerbating and contributing to health disparities among obesity-related health conditions. Children in low-income families that qualify for income-based public assistance programs represent a population that is at high risk for obesity. These programs include the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Supplemental Nutrition Program; Head Start (preschool child care centers); the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF); and Medicaid.
With the Attention Control Arm, the MAPP Study will also contribute valuable information about the effectiveness of using a mobile application with parent-targeted, guided goal-setting for reading to preschool-aged children. Previous studies have shown that adults reading to children is beneficial for child learning and development.
All parents/guardians (both samples and both arms) will be asked to use the respective apps for an 8-week intervention period. The primary outcome will be measured in the Baseline Survey and a Follow Up Survey after completing the 8-week intervention period. After completion of the Follow Up Survey, parents/guardians will be given the option to download and use the other app, if they are interested (i.e., information about the CHEW app for the Control Arm, and information about the Control app for the Intervention Arm). For both the Intervention Arm and those who choose to download the CHEW app in the Control Arm, usage of the CHEW app (i.e., app analytics) will be tracked for up to 20 weeks after the date of study enrollment.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- 1. The ORGANIZATION SAMPLE has a 2-arm parallel cluster-randomized control trial design, with an attention control design. The clusters are the partner community-based organizations where participants are recruited/enrolled by study staff. The cluster is the level of randomization (not individuals). 2. The INDIVIDUAL SAMPLE has a 2-arm parallel randomized control trial design, with an attention control design. The individual parent/guardian as the level of randomization (no clusters). After completing the Baseline Survey (Parts 1 and 2), each individual parent/guardian will be randomized to the Intervention Arm or Control Arm. Both: Parents/guardians will be asked to use the assigned app for 8-weeks. Next, they will complete the Follow Up Survey, then they have the option to download the other app, if interested. For both arms, usage of the CHEW app will be tracked for up to 20 weeks after the date of study enrollment.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention Arm: Nutrition and wellness app | Experimental | Behavioral: Children Eating Well (CHEW) mobile appThe parents/guardians in this study arm will use the Children Eating Well (CHEW) mobile app focused on child and family nutrition and wellness for the first 8 weeks of the study. This app is designed to help parents/guardians of preschool-aged children to improve nutrition, physical activity, sleep, feeding children at mealtimes, and related wellness topics. |
| Attention Control Arm: Reading app | Active comparator | Behavioral: Beanstalk mobile appThe parents/guardians this study arm will use the Beanstack mobile app (or the Bookroo app, as an alternative) focused on parents reading to their children for the first 8 weeks of the study. This app may help parents/guardians to read more to their preschool children (and other children), which is good for child learning and development. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 99 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Parent/Guardian (age 18+ years) of a 2-5 year old
- Living in United States
- Receives services at partner community organization (Organization Sample only)
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Does not own iOS/Apple or Android mobile device (phone or tablet)
- Does not have internet access for the mobile device (data plan on device or in-home WiFi)
- Not able to successfully load and access the Intervention Arm or Attention Control Arm mobile app on the mobile device at the time of enrollment
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Children Eating Well (CHEW) mobile appThe target users of the CHEW app are parents/guardians of preschool aged children. The purpose of the CHEW app is to provide parents/guardians with easy, practical ways to improve nutrition and wellness among their preschool-aged children. The app provides guided goal setting and tracking tools. Parents/guardians set goals related to their preschool-aged children focused on nutrition, physical activity, sleep behaviors and parenting styles. The parents/guardians can also to set goals for themselves for behaviors related to nutrition, physical activity, sleep, and stress. The app does not have features that target children as users. The CHEW app was developed by the study team and can be downloaded for mobile devices (phones or tablets) at no cost in the Apple App Store (iOS/Apple) and the Google Play Store (Android). After downloading the CHEW app, enrolled participants must enter the Access Code provided by the study team in order to unlock the app and use it. | Behavioural | Intervention Arm: Nutrition and wellness app |
| Beanstalk mobile appAlso: Alternative: Bookroo mobile appBeanstack is free commercially-available mobile app that provides goal setting and tracking tools similar to the CHEW app, but focused on a different topic, specifically encouraging parents/guardians to read to their preschool children more frequently. In the case that a parent/guardian is not able to successfully download Beanstack to their mobile device, as a backup alternative they will be asked to use a similar free commercially-available mobile application called Bookroo. Beanstack is available to the public for mobile devices (phones or tablets) at no cost in the Apple App Store (iOS/Apple) and the Google Play Store (Android). Bookroo is a web-based application that users access via the mobile device's web browser and looks and functions like a regular mobile application. It should work on any mobile device with a browser and data/wifi access, | Behavioural | Attention Control Arm: Reading app |
Primary outcome
Healthy Kids childhood obesity risk score
Time frame: 2 months
Using the 19-item Healthy Kids scale, each item is coded from 1 to 5, with 1 being the least healthful and 5 being the most healthful. To calculate the childhood obesity risk score, all 19 items are summed together, ranging from 19 to 95, with higher values reflecting a more healthful, or positive, outcome.
13 secondary outcomes
Child intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (Healthy Kids items)
Time frame: 2 months
Child intake of fruits and vegetables (Healthy Kids items)
Time frame: 2 months
Child intake of energy dense food/beverages (Healthy Kids items)
Time frame: 2 months
Child intake of dairy/calcium (Healthy Kids items)
Time frame: 2 months
Child physical activity and sedentary behavior (Healthy Kids items)
Time frame: 2 months
Sleep: Child bedtime (Healthy Kids item)
Time frame: 2 months
Family meals: Eating meals with child (Healthy Kids item)
Time frame: 2 months
Child dietary intake (Healthy Kids items)
Time frame: 2 months
Diet quality: Variety of child vegetable intake (My Veggies questionnaire)
Time frame: 2 months
My Child at Mealtime questionnaire
Time frame: 2 months
Home Inventory Describing Eating and Activity (Home-IDEA2, food section)
Time frame: 2 months
Frequency of reading to child
Time frame: 2 months
Length of time reading to child
Time frame: 2 months
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 3 Jun 2026.
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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.
Pamela C Hull, PhD principal investigator
University of Kentucky
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Children Eating Well (CHEW) mobile app and Beanstalk mobile app in people with Obesity, Childhood and Nutrition, Healthy, run by Pamela Hull at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. 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 3 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
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?
Healthy Kids childhood obesity risk score (time frame: 2 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 3 Jun 2026.