A lifestyle assessment and intervention tool for pediatric weight management: the HABITS questionnaire

Abstract

Background: Lifestyle assessment and intervention tools are useful in promoting pediatric weight management. The present study aimed to establish convergent validity and reliability for a quick simple measure of food intake and physical activity/sedentary behaviour. The HABITS questionnaire can be used to identify and monitor behavioural intervention targets.

Methods: Thirty-five youths (ages 7-16 years) were recruited from the waiting area of the Jacobi Medical Center Child and Teen Health Services. To establish convergent validity for the HABITS questionnaire, study participants completed the HABITS questionnaire, a 24-h recall and a modified version of the Modifiable Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (MAQ). Participants completed a second HABITS questionnaire within 1 month to assess test-retest reliability. Internal consistency for dietary and physical activity/sedentary behaviour subscales was assessed using Cronbach's alpha, and test-retest reliability was assessed using Cohen's Kappa coefficient. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients were calculated for individual items using the 24-h recall and the MAQ as reference standards.

Results: The HABITS questionnaire subscales showed moderate internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha of 0.61 and 0.59 for the dietary and physical activity/sedentary behaviour subscale, respectively). The test-retest reliability was 0.94 for the dietary subscale and 0.87 for the physical activity/sedentary behaviour subscale. Several items on the HABITS questionnaire were moderately correlated with information reported in the MAQ and the 24-h recall (r = 0.38-0.59, P < 0.05).

Conclusions: The HABITS questionnaire can reliably be used in a paediatric setting to quickly assess key dietary and physical activity/sedentary behaviours and to promote behaviour change for weight management.

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interests, source of funding and authorship

The authors have participated fully in the conception and design of the work, as well as writing of the manuscript, and take public responsibility for it. We consider that the manuscript represents valid work, have reviewed the final version of the submitted manuscript, and approve it for publication. Neither this manuscript nor one with substantially similar content under our authorship has been published or is being considered for publication elsewhere. We certify that, before its commencement, the Institution Review Board (IRB) approved this study. There are no affiliations with or involvement in any organisation or entity with a direct financial interest in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript (e.g. employment, consultancies, stock ownership, honoraria, expert testimony, retainers).

© 2010 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2010 The British Dietetic Association Ltd.