Assessing the feasibility of parent participation in a commercial weight loss program to improve child body mass index and weight-related health behaviors

Abstract

Objectives:Little is known about how children’s health might be affected by parents’ participation in commercial weight loss programs. Given that more than 3.2 million people subscribe to just one commercial weight loss program, Weight Watchers, any secondary effects on children’s weight-related health behaviors (e.g. dietary behaviors, physical activity, and sedentary time) and body mass index from parent participation in commercial weight loss programs may have significant public health implications. This study examined the feasibility of conducting a study to assess such effects. Methods for recruitment and retention, and perceived acceptability and satisfaction among participants in small-scale preliminary study, were evaluated. Changes in body mass index and health behaviors among the parent–child dyads were also measured to test whether a larger-scale study would be warranted.Methods:This was an 8-week, pre–post observational feasibility study involving 20 parent–child dyads where both members had overweight or obesity. Physical and behavioral data were collected at baseline and 8 weeks from both members of the dyads. Parenting data were collected at the same time periods through parents’ self-report. Bivariate correlation was used to quantify the associations in changes for dyad members.Results:Feasibility goals for retention and perceived acceptability/satisfaction among participants were met. We reached approximately 80% of our enrollment goal. Parents showed a significant decrease in body mass index of 0.53 points (p < 0.05), while children showed a significant increase in raw body mass index (0.42, p < 0.05) and body mass index percentile (0.59, p < 0.05). However, correlation between changes in parent body mass index and changes in children body mass index percentile was positively correlated (r = 0.24, p = 0.31). A decrease in parent intake of total fat was associated with a decrease in the intake of fat in their children (r = 0.47, p < 0.05).Conclusion:Our findings support the viability of a larger-scale follow-up to assess the potential of using parent-only commercial weight loss program as a mechanism for improving health behaviors and body mass index in children with overweight or obesity.

Enrolling Caregivers in Obesity Interventions to Improve Obesity-Related Outcomes in Children

“…Potential participants were excluded if they had: a major medical condition that would prevent participation in MVPA or would be a contraindication for energy expenditure, were using a prescribed weight-loss drug, were enrolled in an additional weight-loss program, or were likely to move out of Oregon within the following 12 months. The recruitment method for the caregiver-child dyads has been described elsewhere (Song & Bonds, 2020; Song et al, 2018).…”

“…Brief recruitment presentations were given at meeting locations once every 12 weeks by our study team. Potential participants provided contact information at the meeting via a sign-up sheet, and our team then followed up with the interested participants (Song et al, 2018). Potential participants were also invited to learn more by calling a toll-free telephone number or emailing to the provided study email address.…”

“…Participants wore the accelerometer all waking hours except for bathing and swimming for seven consecutive days and daily activity logs were completed by participants. Minimum wear time for acceptable accelerometer data was three days with at least 500 minutes of waking wear time each day (Song et al, 2018). Movement intensity thresholds were determined based on Freedson’s energy expenditures prediction equation for children (Freedson et al, 2005) and Troiano’s energy equation for parents (Troiano et al, 2008).…”

Parents’ Reports of Children’s Physical and Sedentary Behavior Engagement among Parents in Weight Management

“…However, few studies have focused on how parental engagement in adult medical weight management (MWM) programs affects dependent children living in the home, and specifically, how family participation in exercise associates with the children’s own physical activity engagement. Notably, Song and colleagues (2018) assessed parental participation in a commercial weight loss program and its influence on child outcomes [ 19 ]. While the study reported a significant correlation between the parents’ and children’s decrease in saturated fat consumption and a decline in family meals eaten outside of the home, they did not find any significant changes in the parents’ and children’s physical activity or an association between their rates of physical activity.…”

Healthy Lifestyle Management of Pediatric Obesity with a Hybrid System of Customized Mobile Technology: The PediaFit Pilot Project

“…The current orientation for improving adherence to treatments in pediatrics focuses on motivation, problem-solving skills, and reduction of post-treatment influence, resorting to a number of tools including web-based programs [ 6 , 7 ], “exergaming” [ 8 , 9 , 10 ], school interventions [ 11 ], summer camp [ 12 ], parent engagement [ 13 , 14 , 15 ], and automated mobile technology (MT) [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ]. Studies focused on mobile phone interventions to improve lifestyle and preventing overweight and obesity are attracting interest in both the adult and pediatric population.…”