A Mindfulness-Based Pilot Study to Reduce Childhood Obesity Risk in Underserved Hispanic Children: Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Findings

Abstract Background Childhood obesity remains a significant public health problem. To date, most research on the causes and correlates of obesity has focused on a small number of direct predictors of obesity rather than testing complex models that address the multifactorial nature of the origins of obesity in early development. We describe the rationale and methods of iGrow (Infant Growth and Development Study) which will test multiple pathways by which (a) prenatal maternal psychobiological risk predicts infant weight gain over the first 6 months of life, and (b) this early weight gain confers risk for obesity at age 2. Infant hormonal and psychobiological risk are proposed mediators from prenatal risk to early weight gain, though these are moderated by early maternal sensitivity and obesogenic feeding practices. In addition, higher maternal sensitivity and lower obesogenic feeding practices are proposed predictors of adaptive child self-regulation in the second year of life, and all three are proposed to buffer/reduce the association between high early infant weight gain and obesity risk at age 2. Methods iGrow is a prospective, longitudinal community-based study of 300 diverse mothers and infants to be followed across 5 data waves from pregnancy until children are age 2. Key measures include (a) maternal reports of demographics, stress, well-being, feeding practices and child characteristics and health; (b) direct observation of maternal and infant behavior during feeding, play, and distress-eliciting tasks during which infant heart rate is recorded to derive measures of vagal withdrawal; (c) anthropometric measures of mothers and infants; and (d) assays of maternal prenatal blood and infant saliva and urine. A host of demographic and other potential confounds will be considered as potential covariates in structural equation models that include tests of mediation and moderation. Efforts to mitigate the deleterious effects of COVID-19 on study success are detailed. Discussion This study has the potential to inform (1) basic science about early life processes casually related to childhood obesity and (2) development of targeted intervention and prevention approaches that consider mother, infant, and family risks and resources.

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Utility and applicability of the “Childhood Obesity Risk Evaluation” (CORE)-index in predicting obesity in childhood and adolescence in Greece from early life: the “National Action Plan for Public Health”

European Journal of Pediatrics ◽

10.1007/s00431-016-2799-2 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 175 (12) ◽

pp. 1989-1996 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Yannis Manios ◽

Elpis Vlachopapadopoulou ◽

George Moschonis ◽

Feneli Karachaliou ◽

Theodora Psaltopoulou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Childhood Obesity ◽

Early Life ◽

Risk Evaluation ◽

Action Plan ◽

Childhood And Adolescence ◽

Obesity Risk ◽

National Action Plan

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Temperament and Childhood Obesity Risk

Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics ◽

10.1097/dbp.0b013e31826a119f ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 33 (9) ◽

pp. 732-745 ◽

Cited By ~ 72

Author(s):

Stephanie Anzman-Frasca ◽

Cynthia A. Stifter ◽

Leann L. Birch

Keyword(s):

Childhood Obesity ◽

Obesity Risk

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Perinatal Influences on Childhood Obesity Risk

Society for the Study of Human Biology - Childhood Obesity ◽

10.1201/9781420038071.ch11 ◽

2005 ◽

pp. 149-163

Author(s):

David Dunger ◽

Ken Ong

Keyword(s):

Childhood Obesity ◽

Obesity Risk

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A Web-Based Interactive Tool to Reduce Childhood Obesity Risk in Urban Minority Youth: Usability Testing Study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.9747 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Sandra Verdaguer ◽

Katrina F Mateo ◽

Katarzyna Wyka ◽

Tracy A Dennis-Tiwary ◽

May May Leung

Keyword(s):

Childhood Obesity ◽

Usability Testing ◽

Minority Youth ◽

Obesity Risk ◽

Web Based ◽

Black African ◽

Interactive Tool ◽

Urban Minority ◽

Field Notes ◽

The Web

BACKGROUND Childhood obesity is a serious public health issue among minority youth in the United States. Technology-enhanced approaches can be effective for promoting healthy behavior change. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to test the usability of prototypes of a Web-based interactive tool promoting healthy dietary behaviors to reduce childhood obesity risk in urban minority youth. The Web-based tool comprised a manga-style comic with interactive features (eg, sound effects, clickable pop-ups), tailored messaging, and goal setting, and was optimized for use on tablet devices. METHODS Latino and black/African American children ages 9 to 13 years were recruited to participate in two rounds of usability testing. A modified think-aloud method was utilized. Self-reported surveys and field notes were collected. Audio recordings and field notes from usability testing sessions were systematically reviewed by extracting and coding user feedback as either positive comments or usability or negative issues. The quantitative data from self-reported questionnaires were analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS Twelve children (four female; eight black/African American) with a mean age of 10.92 (SD 1.16) years participated. Testing highlighted overall positive experiences with the Web-based interactive tool, especially related to storyline, sound effects, and color schemes. Specific usability issues were classified into six themes: appearance, content, special effects, storyline, terminology, and navigation. Changes to the Web-based tool after round 1 included adding a navigation guide, making clickable icons more visible, improving graphic designs, and fixing programming errors. In round 2 of testing (after modifications to the Web-based tool were incorporated), many of the usability issues that were identified in round 1 did not emerge. CONCLUSIONS Results of testing will inform further development and finalization of the tool, which will be tested using a two-group pilot randomized study, with the goal of reducing childhood obesity risk in minority, low-income youth.

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Childhood obesity: risk factors, prevention and management

Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics ◽

10.1111/jhn.12254 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 27 (5) ◽

pp. 411-412 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

S. C. Langley-Evans ◽

V. H. Moran

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Childhood Obesity ◽

Obesity Risk ◽

Obesity Risk Factors

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