Reducing Barriers to Behavior Change Among Youth With Pediatric Overweight and Obesity

The purpose of the study is to examine the extent to which two different reward systems implemented in the context of a multi-family pediatric weight management group differentially promote adoption of healthy eating and activity habits among overweight and obese 8-17 year old youth. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two reward conditions: rewards for attendance only or rewards for attendance and goal attainment. We hypothesize that all participants will demonstrate significant increases in healthy nutritional choices and physical activity and significant reductions in sedentary activity from pre-intervention to post intervention. We expect that participants in attendance plus goal attainment reward condition will demonstrate significantly greater improvements than participants in the attendance only condition.

Study Overview

• Status: Terminated
• Conditions: Pediatric Obesity; Pediatric Overweight
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Multifamily weight management intervention

Detailed Description

Pediatric overweight and obesity are significant public health concerns, and group based interventions incorporating behavioral, nutrition, and activity disciplines have showed modest success in improving youth health and weight status. The role of financial rewards in encouraging attendance at weight management sessions and acquisition of healthy eating and activity habits is not well understood in the context of pediatric weight management, however. Behavior theory suggests that positive reinforcement can increase the frequency of desirable behaviors. As such, the primary goal of the study is to evaluate the role of different reinforcement systems in increasing healthy nutritional choices, increasing physical activity, and decreasing sedentary activity among youth participating in a multifamily group based pediatric overweight/obesity intervention program. An additional aim of the study is to evaluate the role of different levels of rewards in decreasing BMI among youth participating in a multifamily group based pediatric overweight/obesity intervention program. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two different reward conditions: Condition A (rewards for attendance only) and Condition A+G (rewards for attendance and goal attainment).

Up to 80 participants will be recruited to participate. Eligibility criteria include patient age 8-17 years, patient with public insurance managed by Children's Community Health Network, English speaking patient and parent, and patient body mass index at or above the 85th percentile for age and sex. Exclusion criteria include: significant patient developmental or cognitive delay, or concurrent involvement in another formal weight management program.

Pre and post intervention assessments of anthropometric, psychosocial, nutritional, and physical fitness variables will be conducted, and participants will complete 8 weekly multi-family group-based weight management intervention sessions involving psychology, physical therapy, and dietitian disciplines. Following this intensive phase, families will follow up on a quarterly basis for one year. Families will receive financial rewards for attending program sessions (Conditions A and A+G) and for completing behavioral monitoring assignments (Condition A+G).

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 12
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Wisconsin
    • Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States, 53226
      • Medical College of Wisconsin/Children's Hosptial of Wisconsin

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 8 years to 17 years (Child)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• patient age 8-17 years
• patient with public insurance managed by Children's Community Health Network
• English speaking patient and parent
• patient body mass index at or above the 85th percentile for age and sex
• parent or legal guardian willing to participate

Exclusion Criteria:

• significant patient developmental or cognitive delay
• concurrent involvement in another formal weight management program.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: 1; Multifamily group weight management intervention plus rewards for program attendance	Behavioral: Multifamily weight management intervention; 8 week multifamily group weight management intervention incorporating behavioral health, nutrition, and activity disciplines.
Active Comparator: 2; Multifamily group weight management intervention plus rewards for attendance and goal attainment	Behavioral: Multifamily weight management intervention; 8 week multifamily group weight management intervention incorporating behavioral health, nutrition, and activity disciplines.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
dietary habits	pre, post, quarterly follow ups
physical and sedentary activity	pre, post, quarterly follow ups

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
body mass index	pre, post, quarterly follow ups
participant satisfaction	post intevention

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Medical College of Wisconsin
• Collaborators: Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services; Children's Health System, Inc.
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Rachel Neff Greenley, PhD, Medical College of Wisconsin

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: February 1, 2009
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 1, 2009
• Study Completion (Actual): July 1, 2009

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 16, 2009
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 16, 2009
• First Posted (Estimate): March 17, 2009

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): June 22, 2010
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 17, 2010
• Last Verified: June 1, 2010

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: pediatric obesity; pediatric overweight; multi-family group weight management intervention; financial rewards
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Overnutrition; Nutrition Disorders; Body Weight; Obesity; Pediatric Obesity; Overweight
• Other Study ID Numbers: CHW 08/101