Coaching and/or education intervention for parents with overweight/obesity and their children: study protocol of a single-centre randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background In Canada, a majority of children and adults are insufficiently active for health gains, and about one in seven children and over 20% of adults are overweight or obese. Overweight and obesity are risk factors for many chronic diseases in both adults and children and can result in lower quality and quantity of life. Children whose parents are overweight or obese are more likely to become overweight themselves. Thus, parent/child interventions are important for reducing obesity and promoting long-term healthy weights among members of the family unit. Programs using Co-Active coaching have resulted in positive behaviour changes among adults with overweight/obesity; however, little research has explored the effects of Co-Active coaching on parents, and the consequent impact on the family unit (i.e. all parents and children in the same household). This protocol paper provides a detailed methodological account of a coaching-based program targeting parent and child dyads, in hopes of enhancing health behaviours within the family unit. Methods Using a randomized controlled trial design, the researchers aim to identify the impact of coaching plus education (intervention) compared to education only (control) on parents with overweight/obesity and their children (ages 2.5–10, of any weight). A total of 50 dyads are being recruited and randomly assigned using a 1:1 ratio into the control or intervention group. The control group receive 6 webinar-based education sessions focused on physical activity and nutrition. The intervention group receive the same education sessions and nine, 20-min telephone-based sessions with a certified coach. Coaching and health education sessions are conducted with the parent/guardian of the dyad. This paper provides a detailed methodological account of this program. Discussion The expected findings from this research will advance coaching literature, research, and practice on this topic by determining whether coaching and education are more effective than education alone at producing behaviour changes among a family unit. If proven effective, this approach may be applied more broadly through public health interventionists to parent and child populations in hopes of affecting change with both individuals and their families. Trial registration ISRCTN ISRCTN69091372 . Retrospectively registered 24 September 2018.

Perspectives and Impact of a Parent-Child Intervention on Dietary Intake and Physical Activity Behaviours, Parental Motivation, and Parental Body Composition: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…While the researchers reported no statistically significant difference in PA engagement, they noted that 16 of their 19 participants achieved weight loss, resulting in significant BMI reductions over the course of the intervention [ 66 ]. These downward trends have been noted in previous studies in which the researchers found that individualized CALC interventions can produce significant BMI reductions [ 41 , 66 , 67 ]. For instance, Pearson and colleagues [ 38 ] assessed the effectiveness of two self-management approaches on obesity via a 12-week telephone-based intervention in which one group received MI-via-CALC while the other received a structured lifestyle program.…”

“…Ethical approval was received from the host institution’s Health Sciences’ Research Ethics Board (ID# 109219). The methods pertaining to the protocol and a complete intervention description have been published elsewhere [ 41 ]. However, as the current study progressed some necessary adjustments were made to the protocol.…”

“…Interviews were transcribed verbatim, and two researchers independently completed inductive content analysis to identify common themes [ 60 ]. Strategies employed to uphold data trustworthiness are presented elsewhere [ 41 ]. Due to the differences in ‘treatment’ received by control and intervention groups, interviews were analyzed separately at each follow-up time point.…”

How Did Parents View the Impact of the Curriculum-Based HealthLit4Kids Program Beyond the Classroom?

“…Despite the proximity of the parent-child relationship and many published papers on the importance of the parent-child dyad [32][33][34][35], there is a range of identified barriers to parents engaging in the promotion of health with children. Parent concerns about safety have been identified as a central and consistent barrier to physical activity participation of children [36].…”

Health Coaching as an Intervention for Picky Eaters

“…Health coaching uses a supportive relational framework to encourage the development of autonomous choice, strength, confidence, readiness, and motivation to change. 22,23 The coaching skills employed in such a framework include the principles of positive psychology and positivity, 24 practices of gratitude, recognition of small steps and small change, appreciative inquiry, 25 mindfulness, "SMART" (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely) goal setting, 26 and the use of "desire to change" and "confidence to change" scales. 27 When required to manage ambivalencemotivational interviewing and decisional balance interventions may be used.…”