Managing Obesity in Young Children: A Multiple Methods Study Assessing Feasibility, Acceptability, and Implementation of a Multicomponent, Family-Based Intervention

Abstract

Background: We developed a multicomponent, family-based intervention for young children with obesity consisting of parent group sessions, home nursing visits, and multidisciplinary clinical encounters. Our objective was to assess intervention feasibility, acceptability, and implementation. Methods: From 2017 to 2020, we conducted a multiple methods study in the obesity management clinic at a tertiary children's hospital (Toronto, Canada). We included 1–6 year olds with a body mass index ≥97th percentile and their parents; we also included health care providers (HCPs) who delivered the intervention. To assess feasibility, we performed a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing the intervention to usual care. To explore acceptability, we conducted parent focus groups. To explore implementation, we examined contextual factors with HCPs using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. Results: There was a high level of ineligibility ( n = 34/61) for the pilot RCT. Over 21 months, 11 parent-child dyads were recruited; of 6 randomized to the intervention, 3 did not participate in group sessions or home visits. In focus groups, themes identified by parents ( n = 8) related to information provided at referral; fit between the intervention and patient needs; parental gains from participating in the intervention; and feasibility of group sessions. HCPs ( n = 10) identified contextual factors that were positively and negatively associated with intervention implementation. Conclusions: We encountered challenges related to intervention feasibility, acceptability, and implementation. Lessons learned from this study will inform the next iteration of our intervention and are relevant to intervention development and implementation for young children with obesity. Clinical Trial Registration number: NCT03219658.

The Effect of Family-Based Empowerment in Preventing Overweight and Obesity in Elementary School Children in Kupang

“…13 Early childhood is an appropriate time for obesity intervention, for various reasons, including early life obesity intervention has been associated with very important effects, early life behaviors and patterns (eg, low physical activity, short sleep duration, inadequate consumption controlled) correlates well with the development and persistence of obesity, and behavior and lifestyle modifications appear to be more successful when applied at younger ages and have the potential to be sustained into adulthood. 14 people (91.4%) and <UMP there were 5 people (8.6%). Based on the number of family members in the control group, there were 28 (51.9%) family members of 4 people and >4 of 26 people (48.1%).…”

Designing, Implementing, and Evaluating a Home-Based, Multidisciplinary, Family-Centered Pediatric Obesity Intervention: The ProxOb Program

“…Moreover, the authors concluded that there was a high level of heterogeneity when it came to both the designs and reported results of the included trials [14]. Interestingly, Kinlin and colleagues recently proposed an assessment of the feasibility and acceptability of their STOMP-EY family-based intervention, in which home visits from public health nurses were performed in addition to the parent-only group sessions [15]. According to their results, such family-based programs that include home visits face several barriers, such as the lack of relative priority and perceived patient need, lack of tailoring to individual patient needs, a poor parental motivation to engage in group sessions, and the challenges related to the scheduling and delivery of group sessions [15].…”