FOR HEALTH: A Family-oriented Healthy Eating, Activity and Lifestyle Intervention for Overweight...
Childhood ObesityIn this 3-phase study, following an initial small-scale (phase 1) feasibility trial, the aim of phase 2 of the project is to investigate whether a community-based, 12-month intervention for overweight and obese preschool children 2-6 years of age and their families will be effective in reducing the participants' degree of overweight (BMI z-score) and in improving quality of life. In the final phase (phase 3), participating children will be randomized to either receiving a multidisciplinary lifestyle intervention during the first 6 months (treatment arm), or 6 months later (control or wait list arm), in order to generate more robust effectiveness data. Participants will receive an additional free 6-month YMCA membership while participating in the study.
Linking Activity, Nutrition, and Child Health
ObesityChild ObesityLeading health organizations have identified prevention of obesity in young children as a critical public health challenge. Low levels of physical activity and high levels of sedentary behavior may contribute to the development of excessive fatness in young children, but these relationships have not been fully explored, and accelerometry rarely has been used to measure physical activity levels in infants and toddlers. No previous study has used accelerometry as an objective measure of physical activity in young children as they develop from infancy to preschool age. Accordingly, little is known about the factors associated with the development of physical activity behavior in very young children, and little is known about the influence of physical activity and sedentary behavior, measured objectively, on development of weight status during the transition from infancy to age 3. The first aim of this study is to describe physical activity and sedentary behavior in young children as they develop from infancy to preschool age. The second aim is to describe the longitudinal associations of weight status with physical activity and sedentary behavior as young children develop from infancy to preschool age. The proposed investigation will employ a longitudinal, observational study design. Participants will be 160 children and their biological mothers living in Columbia, South Carolina. For each participating child, measurements will be taken at 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36 months of age. At each time point, each child's physical activity, sedentary behavior, weight status and motor developmental status will be measured objectively, and each child's mother will complete a survey to assess demographic, social and physical environmental factors; gross motor milestones; parenting practices related to physical activity and sedentary behavior; and dietary practices. Childcare center directors will complete a survey annually to assess center characteristics, and the Environment and Policy Assessment and Observation (EPAO) will be administered in the child's classroom annually.
Adapting Diet and Action for Everyone (ADAPT+)
Pediatric ObesityThe purpose of this study is to refine and optimize an obesity intervention with rural underserved Latino children and their parents that combines a standard family-based behavioral approach, the "gold standard" for pediatric obesity treatment, with a mindfulness approach focusing on stress reduction (now ADAPT+).
Microbiome, Antibiotics, and Growth Infant Cohort
ObesityChildhood1 moreThis cross-disciplinary study will assemble and longitudinally follow a large, diverse birth cohort to determine the relationships between early life antibiotic exposure, microbiome development, growth, antibodies, and immunostimulation.
STRONG Kids 2: A Cells-to-Society Approach to Nutrition in Early Childhood
Child ObesityChild1 moreSTRONG Kids 2: A Cells to Society Approach to Nutrition Overview Using a cells-to-society approach to nutrition, this transdisciplinary project will provide unique insights into how individual biology interacts with the family environment to promote healthy eating habits in young children. It is one of the first studies to take a longitudinal look at the habits, including milk and dairy consumption, from birth. STRONG Kids 2 is built upon previous research from STRONG Kids 1 with preschool-aged children, documenting the relationship among genetic, child, and family factors in predicting BMI and dietary habits. The study sample includes 450 infants and their families located in small urban communities in central Illinois. Biological samples and height and weight measurements from infants and toddlers are collected at 6 weeks, 3, 12, 18 months and 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 years. Mothers are surveyed about weaning, dietary habits, household routines, children's emotions, feeding styles, and milk and dairy consumption. Additional measures such as maternal height and weight are also being collected.
Intervention Nurses Start Infants Growing on Healthy Trajectories (INSIGHT) - Long Term Follow-Up...
Child ObesityIntervention Nurses Start Infants Growing on Healthy Trajectories (INSIGHT 2)-Long Term Follow-up will follow participants enrolled in the Intervention Nurses Start Infants Growing on Healthy Trajectories (INSIGHT) (NCT01167270) study from age 3 years through the developmentally important time at school-entry around age 6 years and into middle childhood at age 9.
Study of Post-meal Blood Sugar Peaks in Association With Vascular Disease in Childhood Obesity
Pediatric ObesityInsulin Resistance2 moreThe main purpose of this study is to determine whether treatment with acarbose attenuates post-prandial glycemic excursions in non-diabetic/pre-diabetic obese children as determined by continuous glucose monitoring systems (CGMS). To this effect the current pilot study involves a 6 week intervention with acarbose given to all subjects with either impaired glucose tolerance or an area under the curve of >130 mg/dl during the screening oral glucose tolerance test. Three consecutive days of CGMS are then compared to before and during the intervention. The secondary objective addressed in this protocol is the collection of baseline measures of endothelial function in obese and lean children. Even though the duration of acarbose treatment may be too short to demonstrate a vascular effect, the pre and post intervention data would serve as preliminary data for anticipated future studies that assess the vascular effect of reduced post-prandial blood glucose levels.
Weight-loss Treatment Program in Children and Adolescents
Childhood ObesityHealth Behavior2 moreThe study will evaluate the effect of an existing hospital-based obesity treatment in children and adolescents in relation to weight loss and motivation. This is to ensure that children who have developed obesity have the possibility to obtain a healthier lifestyle, including a healthier body weight during their school years. This study will test whether an obesity treatment program designed for school children can reduce the degree of overweight in children and adolescents with overweight and obesity.
Promoting Nutrition and Physical Activity in Family Child Care
DietHealthy3 moreThe CHEER study takes advantage of a natural experiment happening in South Carolina (SC). The South Carolina Department of Social Services implemented new healthy eating and physical activity standards through a state-wide policy for family child care homes that participate in the ABC Grow Healthy program. Thus, CHEER is a quasi-experimental, two-group, pre-test/post-test design study.
The Family Stress Study - Chronic Stress and Child Adiposity: Testing a Bio-behavioural Model
Pediatric ObesityMental Health Wellness 1The Family Stress Study is following families with young children in Guelph, Hamilton and surrounding areas over 3 years to understand how chronic stress impacts children's weight gain over time and how this association is mediated by alterations in children's cortisol production and weight-related behaviours.