Family nutrition program to prevent overweight and obesity in school-age children
Family-based Intervention Model to Prevent Childhood Obesity Among Schoolage Children in Sonora, Mexico.
This project tests a family-focused mobile app plus a multidisciplinary program to help children ages 5–9 keep healthy eating habits and avoid excess weight.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Ages | 5 Years to 9 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Medicas y Nutricion Salvador Zubiran Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (México, Sonora) |
| Trial ID | NCT07159971 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
The intervention combines a mobile health (mHealth) application with a multidisciplinary, family-centered program grounded in authoritative parenting and social cognitive theory, delivered to families of schoolchildren in Nacozari de García, Sonora. Participants are recruited from local schools and randomized by school site to receive the family-based intervention or control procedures, with engagement supported through tailored communications and incentives. Outcomes focus on changes in eating patterns, food-related behaviors, and adiposity categories defined by WHO z-scores for BMI and height-for-age. The protocol excludes children or caregivers with active medical conditions requiring treatment, and requires family access to a smartphone with internet and camera.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are families with children aged 5–9 who are normal weight, overweight, or obese per WHO z-scores, who are not receiving medical treatment for obesity and who have a smartphone with internet and a camera.
Not a fit: Children or caregivers currently managing medical conditions that require medication or special treatment, children with physical or cognitive impairments preventing activity, or families without smartphone/internet access are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could improve children's eating behaviors and reduce excess weight gain, lowering long-term risk of metabolic disease.
How similar studies have performed: Some mHealth interventions have shown modest weight or behavior changes in adults and a limited number of pediatric trials, but few prior studies have tested family-based, school-linked mHealth programs for preventing childhood adiposity.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Families of children between 5 and 9 years old. * Children without any medical or nutritional treatment for obesity. * Children classified as normal weight, overweight, or obese based on WHO (Z-score: height for age and BMI for age). * Offspring of mothers aged between 18 and 45 years at delivery. * Term infants from normoevolutive pregnancies without maternal comorbidities. * Families who have a cell phone with internet access and an installed camera. Exclusion Criteria: * Children who are currently suffering from a pathology that requires medication or special treatment * Mothers/Fathers/Guardians who are currently suffering from a pathology that requires medication or special treatment. * Children who have a physical/mental impairment to perform physical activities. * Children from surrogate mothers who have presented at least 2 of the 11 DSM-5 criteria for substance use disorder (alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, or other illegal drugs) before or during the participating child's gestation. * Children from multiple pregnancies. * Parents who do not own a smartphone compatible with the app will be excluded from this study (i.e., version 5.0 or higher for Android).
Where this trial is running
México, Sonora
- "El globo" and "Servicios de Salud Lomas Altas" — México, Sonora, Mexico (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Claudia Tovar-Palacio, Ph.D. — Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Medicas y Nutricion Salvador Zubiran
- Study coordinator: Claudia Tovar-Palacio, Ph.D.
- Email: claudia.tovarp@incmnsz.mx
- Phone: +52 5585341831
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.