Healthy Kids Pilot

Up to 30 parent/child dyads will be recruited to participate in an m-Health intervention (delivered over smartphone, iPad/Tablet, or desktop/laptop) to promote healthy behaviors and healthy weight among children and their parents.

Parent/child dyads attend remote counseling sessions delivered over Internet-connected device (e.g. smartphone, iPad/tablet, laptop, or desktop computer). A counselor will deliver the lesson, review progress based on the objectively measured data, and provide individualized advice and problem-solving strategies for parent and child. Families will receive weekly contact via smartphone. Each lesson will include an interactive component for parent and child related to healthy eating and active play, as well as an interactive parenting training component. Lessons are based on the family treatment methods that effectively promote child and parent weight loss that is sustained for 10 years (Epstein et al., 1990; Epstein et al., 1981).

Acceptability/feasibility of the mHealth approach will be evaluated by a survey on treatment satisfaction.

Inclusion Criteria for Child: Have at least one participating parent Have a BMI percentile > 85 Be physically capable of exercise Be free of diseases that affect metabolism, body weight, and food intake, including type 1 or type 2 diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and cancer Inclusion Criteria for Parent: Have a smartphone Be willing to use the smartphone for the mHealth intervention Exclusion Criteria for Child: Significant cardiovascular disease or disorders via self-report from parent Other significant medical problems that would prevent them from engaging in regular physical activity.