A Mobile Phone Based Pilot Intervention to Prevent Obesity in Latino Preschool Children
Childhood Obesity, Parenting, Mobile Phone Use
About this trial
This is an interventional health services research trial for Childhood Obesity
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- adult male or female caregiver
- self-identifies as an individual of Latino descent
- has a child or grandchild 2-5 years of age (relationship does not have to be biological but caregiver is a legal guardian)
- lives with or cares for child/grandchild at least 20 hours/week
- is fluent in English or Spanish
- has the ability to participate in the mHealth intervention (ability determined by using a Subject Comprehension and Participation Assessment Tool)
- agrees to complete baseline, 1-, and 6-month post-baseline surveys and have adult and child height and weight measured.
Exclusion Criteria:
- child has a failure to thrive diagnosis
- medical complications associated with their weight status such as Prader-Willi Syndrome
Sites / Locations
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Active Comparator
No Intervention
Mobile Phone Obesity Intervention
Control
Caregiver-child dyads will be recruited from two early childhood education centers in East Los Angeles. Approximately 30 caregiver-child dyads will be randomized into the intervention arm. Every week for 4 weeks, caregivers will receive 4 interactive multi-media phone prompts to support the intervention's targeted topics. Each mobile phone prompt starts with a 140-character text with an embedded link. Clicking on the link navigates caregivers to a web-based application with interactive content that includes images, text, videos, and prompts. Each week, caregivers will share their goal/s, perceived barriers, questions, tips and strategies that may be helpful to other participants. Each week, caregivers will also receive strategies, and individual and group feedback on changing unhealthy behaviors. The content shared by caregivers are summarized by a team research assistant and sent back to participants at the end of every week.
Caregiver-child dyads will be recruited from two early childhood education centers in East Los Angeles. Approximately 30 caregiver-child dyads will be randomized into the control (no intervention) arm. Every week for 4 weeks, these caregivers will receive 4 interactive multi-media phone prompts around managing common illness in young children (i.e. fever, vomiting, constipation, etc.) Each mobile phone prompt will start with a 140-character text with an embedded link. Clicking on the link navigates caregivers to a web-based application with interactive content that includes images, text, videos, and prompts. Each week, caregivers will share questions and strategies that may be helpful to other participants. Each week, caregivers will also receive tips and group feedback based on group questions. The content shared by caregivers will be summarized by a team research assistant and sent back to participants at the end of every week.