Family Focused Community Program to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes in Peripubertal Youth (EPIC Kids)

Over one-third of children and adolescents are overweight and nearly 1 in 5 of them are obese. Metabolic syndrome, a strong predictor of Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular disease (CVD), occurs in up to 44% of obese youth, foreshadowing greater prevalence and earlier onset of T2D. Without effective interventions, "diabesity" will worsen, T2D prevalence will increase, and adults will face its consequences at younger ages. Given the strong association between obesity and chronic disease risk factors in youth, the investigators contend T2D prevention (and CVD prevention) is akin to weight control and obesity prevention. The objective of the proposed project is to develop a family-centered, community-based program for T2D prevention in peripubertal (9- to 12-year-old) youth. Using participatory methods, the investigators intend to adapt the successful adult-focused YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program (YDPP) for youth and families and assess the feasibility, acceptance and adherence to the YFDPP using two delivery formats: a 12-week YMCA-based face-to-face program and a 12-week combined face-to-face plus mobile device-based program. The proposed study will test the investigators premise that delivery with technology can reduce participant perceived burden, improve adherence, and lead to improved anthropometric, behavioral and physiological outcomes. The investigators will use the resulting data to design an appropriately powered full-scale trial. The importance of the proposed study is underscored both by the statistics cited above and the recent call for proposals to translate efficacious clinical interventions into effective community programs for youth. The potential impact of the proposed intervention is great in that the program will be delivered by paraprofessionals from the community without university researchers; significant in that it targets a major public health challenge in children and includes assessment of objective behavioral and clinical data; and innovative in that it focuses on an at-risk population, takes place at a popular, accessible community venue, and uses mobile technologies to extend reach and increase engagement of youth and families with intervention content. The long-term goal is to create a scalable, replicable, and sustainable program that overcomes existing barriers to implementation and dissemination of evidence-based, research-proven diabetes prevention programs to youth and families, thereby improving population health.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Pediatric Obesity
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: YMCA Family Diabetes Prevention Program (YFDPP)

Detailed Description

The investigators objective is to develop a family-centered, community-based program for T2D prevention in peripubertal (9-12-year-old) youth. Efficacious community programs for youth are not available (although promising components exist), and thus the investigators propose to adapt the successful adult-focused YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program (YDPP) for youth and families, and assess its impact on anthropometric, behavioral and physiological outcomes in support of the design (power calculation) of a full-scale trial. The proposed study will evaluate the adapted program using two formats (with and without mobile technologies). Secondary endpoints will include participant perceived burden, adherence, and program costs.

Aim 1: Adapt an efficacious diabetes prevention program in adults (the YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program, or YDPP) for delivery to overweight peripubertal youth and their families, thereby establishing a YMCA Family Diabetes Prevention Program (YFDPP).

Aim 2: Test the feasibility, participant acceptance (child and parent) and retention rates of the YFDPP using two formats, a 12-week YMCA-based face-to-face program and a 12-week program with content delivered through a combination of face-to-face and mobile devices.

Aim 3: Test the impact of the new YFDPP using two formats on anthropometric (height, weight, BMI and waist circumference), behavioral (diet and physical activity), and physiological (fasting insulin, glucose, lipid) outcomes, using the resulting data to design an appropriately powered full-scale trial.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 47
• Phase: Not Applicable

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 9 years to 12 years (Child)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Inclusion Criteria for Children and Parents/Primary Caregivers

• child's age between 9 to 12 years
• child body mass index (BMI) 85th percentile for age and sex

• child has T2D risk factors:

  • 1st or 2nd degree relative with T2D
  • conditions associated with insulin resistance/metabolic syndrome (e,g, acanthosis nigricans, hypertension, dyslipidemia, PCOS, or small for gestational age birth weight, maternal history of T2D or gestational diabetes)
• parent/primary caregiver must be willing to participate in intervention sessions and activities (note: primary caregiver is the adult guardian who most frequently prepares/obtains food, regulates media use, and provides physical activity opportunities for the child)
• parent/child willing to use a study-provided mobile device during intervention
• parent and child speak and read English

Exclusion Criteria:

Exclusion Criteria for Children (Index Participants) and Parents/Primary Caregivers

• child/parent unwillingness to participate in group activities or to use study-provided mobile device
• child previously diagnosed T1 or T2D
• child with psychiatric disturbances or mental illness
• child with inability to be physically active
• child/parent inability to speak and read English
• child takes weight loss medications or medications known to cause weight gain or affect appetite.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: face-to-face; Delivery and testing of YMCA Family Diabetes Prevention Program (YFDPP) delivered face-to-face by YMCAs over 12 weeks to children age 9-12 and one parent/guardian.	Behavioral: YMCA Family Diabetes Prevention Program (YFDPP); 12 week, group education to promote behavioral change delivered either face-to-face or via a combination of face-to-face and mobile technologies
Experimental: face-to-face + mobile hybrid; Delivery and testing of YMCA Family Diabetes Prevention Program (YFDPP) delivered face-to-face and via a mobile platform by YMCAs over 12 weeks to children age 9-12 and one parent/guardian.	Behavioral: YMCA Family Diabetes Prevention Program (YFDPP); 12 week, group education to promote behavioral change delivered either face-to-face or via a combination of face-to-face and mobile technologies

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Percentage Overweight	Percentage overweight will be calculated as percentage over the median body mass index (BMI) for age and gender and change in BMI zscore	Baseline, Week 12 (post-intervention)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Dietary Intake	Diet quality was assessed using the Healthy Eating Index-2010 (HEI-2010), which measures adherence to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater adherence and better diet quality. HEI-2010 scores were computed from 24-hour recall data collected at baseline and Week 12 (post-intervention).	Baseline, Week 12 (post-intervention)
Physical Activity	Physical activity was objectively measured using GT3X accelerometers worn on the hip for 7 consecutive days at baseline and again at Week 12 (post-intervention). Data were processed using ActiLife software with standard youth cut points to classify activity intensity levels.	Baseline, Week 12 (post-intervention)
Change in Waist Circumference	Waist circumference (cm) was measured at the level of the umbilicus using a non-stretchable measuring tape, following standard anthropometric procedures. Measurements were taken at baseline and at Week 12 (post-intervention) with participants standing and breathing normally. The reported value represents the mean change in waist circumference from baseline to Week 12 across all participants. The change score was calculated as the Week 12 measurement minus the baseline measurement; positive values indicate an increase and negative values indicate a decrease in waist circumference over the 12-week intervention period.	Baseline, Week 12 (post-intervention)

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Fasting Lipids	Total cholesterol (mg/dL) was measured from fasting venous blood samples collected at baseline and Week 12 (post-intervention). The reported value represents the mean change in fasting total cholesterol from baseline to Week 12 across all participants. The change score was calculated as the Week 12 value minus the baseline value for each participant; positive values indicate an increase and negative values indicate a decrease in total cholesterol during the 12-week intervention period. Because this was a feasibility study not powered to detect between-group differences, results for both delivery formats (face-to-face and hybrid) were analyzed in aggregate. Arm-level estimates were not calculated or retained, as separate estimates were not meaningful for this exploratory outcome.	Baseline, Week 12 (post-intervention)
Fasting Glucose	Fasting plasma glucose (mg/dL) was measured from venous blood samples collected after an overnight fast at baseline and at Week 12 (post-intervention). The reported value represents the mean change in fasting glucose from baseline to Week 12 for all participants combined. The change score was calculated as the Week 12 value minus the baseline value for each participant; positive values indicate an increase and negative values indicate a decrease in fasting glucose during the 12-week intervention period. Because this was a feasibility study not powered for between-group comparisons, data from both intervention formats (face-to-face and hybrid) were analyzed in aggregate. Arm-level results were not calculated or retained, as separate estimates were not meaningful for this exploratory outcome.	Baseline and 12 week (post-intervention)
Fasting Insulin	Fasting insulin (µU/mL) was measured from venous blood samples collected after an overnight fast at baseline and at Week 12 (post-intervention). The reported value represents the mean change in fasting insulin from baseline to Week 12 for all participants combined. The change score was calculated as the Week 12 value minus the baseline value for each participant; positive values indicate an increase in fasting insulin over the 12-week intervention period, and negative values indicate a decrease. Because this was a feasibility study not powered for between-group comparisons, results were analyzed in aggregate across both intervention arms.	Baseline, Week 12 (post-intervention)
Blood Pressure	Blood pressure was measured in duplicate after 5 minutes of seated rest using an automated oscillometric device. The mean of the two readings was used. Because the study was designed to assess feasibility and not efficacy, blood pressure change was analyzed descriptively across the combined cohort.	Baseline, Week 12 (post-intervention)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Arizona

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Hingle MD, Turner T, Kutob R, Merchant N, Roe DJ, Stump C, Going SB. The EPIC Kids Study: a randomized family-focused YMCA-based intervention to prevent type 2 diabetes in at-risk youth. BMC Public Health. 2015 Dec 18;15:1253. doi: 10.1186/s12889-015-2595-3.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: May 1, 2015
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 1, 2016
• Study Completion (Actual): July 1, 2016

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 15, 2015
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 17, 2015
• First Posted (Estimated): April 20, 2015

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): December 26, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 8, 2025
• Last Verified: December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Intervention Studies
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nutrition Disorders; Overnutrition; Body Weight; Overweight; Obesity; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Pediatric Obesity
• Other Study ID Numbers: 1R21DK100805-01 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO