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.

Parenting andsocial‐ecologicalcorrelates with children's health behaviours: A latent profile analysis

“…Caregivers completed a 6‐item scale adapted from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey's Dietary Screener Questionnaire (DSQ) to report the frequency of food and beverage choices during the past week on an 8‐point scale (0 = never , 4 = 5‐6 times per week , 8 = 6 or more times per day ) 42 . For food choices, caregivers were asked how frequently the child ate fruits, vegetables, or fast food.…”

Feel American, Watch American, Eat American? Remote Acculturation, TV, and Nutrition Among Adolescent–Mother Dyads in Jamaica

“…Using two items adapted from the HABITS questionnaire (Wright et al., ), participants reported the daily time spent watching U.S.‐produced cable TV on a typical weekday and on a weekend in the past month, for example, “In the past month, how much did you… Watch American‐produced TV programs on a WEEKDAY? (e.g., Scandal, The Voice).” A 4‐point Likert‐type scale was used: 1 ( 0–1 hr ), 2 ( 1 hr ), 3 ( 2 hr ), and 4 ( 3+ hr ).…”

“…Using two items adapted from the HABITS questionnaire (Wright et al, 2011), participants reported the daily time spent watching U.S.-produced cable TV on a typical weekday and on a weekend in the past month, for example, "In the past month, how much did you. .…”

The Role of Recreational Online Activities in School-Based Screen Time Sedentary Behaviour Interventions for Adolescents: A Systematic and Critical Literature Review

“…International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction (Llargués et al 2009) The Health Behaviour in School-aged children (HBSC) questionnaire (Currie et al 2010) The HABITS questionnaire (sugary drinks consumption) (Wright et al 2011) Fruit/vegetable/sugary drink consumption, fast food, PA, SBs Intervention effects in % of male children in the intervention group who followed the recommendations of ≤ 2 h/weekday of (8.2%…”