Mothers And careGivers Investing in Children (MAGIC)

MAGIC: A Family Based Feeding Intervention Program

The incidence of childhood obesity in the United States has steadily increased over the past 30 years but has begun to level off in recent years. Epidemiological evidence indicates that obesity may transmitted across multiple generations. The current study seeks to: 1) evaluate the extent to which mothers and other important caregivers affect their mothers' parenting; 2) examine whether an intervention aimed at improving diet quality and enhancing responsive feeding to improves parental responsivity and feeding behavior and infants' weight trajectories over time; 3) examine the effects of early life feeding and caregiver sensitivity on health and development; and 4) examine feasibility of food distribution along with the feeding intervention.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Parenting; Obesity, Childhood
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Obesity Prevention Group; Behavioral: Infant Safety and Injury Prevention Group; Behavioral: Obesity Prevention Group + Food Boxes

Detailed Description

The incidence of childhood obesity in the United States has steadily increased over the past 30 years, but has begun to level off in recent years. Children from minority groups may be disproportionately affected, such that Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black children have greater weight for recumbent length compared to White children. Similarly, socioeconomic status (SES) may affect child weight status. Epidemiological evidence indicates that obesity may transmitted across multiple generations. Genetics are a factor in determining weight status, but parents are largely responsible for regulating children's dietary environments. Grandparents increasingly provide care for their grandchildren, yet few studies have examined grandparent involvement or the role that grandparents or other significant caregivers play in feeding the child.

The objective of the current study is two-fold: 1) to evaluate the extent to which mothers and other caregivers affect mothers' parenting surrounding feeding their infant, beginning when the infant is first introduced to solid foods; and 2) to examine whether an intervention aimed at providing both mothers and and other important caregivers with hands-on training regarding healthy foods and responsive and sensitive feeding behaviors improves mothers' and other caregivers' responsive and sensitive behaviors and infants' weight trajectories over time. The researchers will collect both self-report data on diet, child temperament, mothers and caregiver mental health, stress and support. Observational assessments will be obtained to code co-caregiver behavior and caregiver responsiveness during feeding.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 165
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Texas
    • Austin, Texas, United States, 78723
      • Dell Pediatric Research Institute
    • Austin, Texas, United States, 78712
      • Sarah M. & Charles E. Seay Building

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: No older than 90 years (Child, Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Mothers with babies aged 4 to 5 months
• Other caregivers assisting the mother with the baby.
• Babies aged 4 to 5 months

Exclusion Criteria:

• Babies with metabolic or feeding issues.
• Mothers younger than 16 years of age.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Obesity Prevention Group; Parents will be provided with responsive feeding coaching to help them recognize hunger and satiety cues and nutrition coaching that involves recommending a sequence of introducing complementary foods that corresponds with food textures and feeding styles, breast/bottle weaning, healthy snacking and hands on demonstrations for healthy food options.	Behavioral: Obesity Prevention Group; Parents will be provided with responsive feeding coaching to help them recognize hunger and satiety cues and nutrition coaching that involves recommending a sequence of introducing complementary foods that corresponds with food textures and feeding styles, breast/bottle weaning, healthy snacking and hands on demonstrations for healthy food options.
Active Comparator: Infant Safety and Injury Prevention Group; Parents will be provided with information about safe sleeping, car seats, baby-proofing, etc., delivered during virtual visits, participant binder and newsletter.	Behavioral: Infant Safety and Injury Prevention Group; Parents will be provided with information about safe sleeping, car seats, baby-proofing, etc., delivered during home visits, newsletters, and reinforcing text messages.
Experimental: Obesity Prevention Group + Food Boxes; Parents will be provided with responsive feeding coaching to help them recognize hunger and satiety cues and nutrition coaching that involves recommending a sequence of introducing complementary foods that corresponds with food textures and feeding styles, breast/bottle weaning, healthy snacking and hands on demonstrations for healthy food options. Parents will also be provided with grocery items (fruits, vegetables, meat) prior to each intervention visit to facilitate a healthy family diet.	Behavioral: Obesity Prevention Group + Food Boxes; Parents will be provided with responsive feeding coaching to help them recognize hunger and satiety cues and nutrition coaching that involves recommending a sequence of introducing complementary foods that corresponds with food textures and feeding styles, breast/bottle weaning, healthy snacking and hands on demonstrations for healthy food options. Parents will also be provided with grocery items (fruits, vegetables, meat) prior to each intervention visit to facilitate a healthy family diet.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
BMI percentile at 12 months of age	Anthropometrics measured by trained study staff	12 months
BMI percentile at 24 months of age	Anthropometrics measured by trained study staff	24 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Proportion of infants with BMI percentile >85th at 12 months of age	Anthropometrics measured by trained study staff	12 months
Proportion of infants with BMI percentile >85th at 24 months of age	Anthropometrics measured by trained study staff	24 months

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Infant dietary intake of fruits and vegetables, animal source foods, whole grains, desserts and sweets, and salty snacks at 11 months of age	Measured at 10-11 months using an Infant Diet History questionnaire adapted from the Infant Feeding Practices Study II. Measured at 10 to 11 months using the Nutrition Data System for Research (NDSR)	10 to 11 months of age
Responsive feeding at 10 to 11 months of age	Measured using the Infant Feeding Styles Questionnaire (IFSQ) full scale	10 to 11 months of age
Responsive feeding at 10 to 11 months of age	Measured during mealtime observations using the Chatoor's feeding scale.	11 months of age

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Texas at Austin
• Collaborators: Egg Nutrition Center; National Pork Board; St. David's Foundation; National Cattlemen's Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Deborah Jacobvitz, PhD, University of Texas at Austin; Principal Investigator: Elizabeth Widen, PhD, RD, University of Texas at Austin

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 14, 2019
• Primary Completion (Estimated): May 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 25, 2019
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 22, 2019
• First Posted (Actual): November 26, 2019

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 28, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 22, 2026
• Last Verified: March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: nutrition; parenting; intergenerational feeding influences; sensitive feeding
• 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: UT Austin IRB#2015040017

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No