Helping parents support food motivated children
Deconstructing Food Parenting Approaches to Obesity Prevention for the Highly Food Motivated Child
This study looks at how different parenting styles can help parents of food-loving kids eat healthier and avoid gaining too much weight.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 416 (estimated) |
| Ages | 4 Years to 5 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Temple University Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and 1 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT06111040 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This investigation focuses on understanding how parenting approaches can support healthy eating habits in children who are highly motivated by food, which can lead to obesity. The study will follow 300 caregiver-child pairs over 18 months, using advanced methods to assess food parenting practices and their effectiveness in preventing excessive dietary intake and BMI gains. By identifying specific strategies that work for these children, the research aims to fill a significant gap in the current understanding of obesity prevention in young children. The study will also differentiate between supportive and coercive parenting styles to better inform caregivers.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are parents or primary caregivers of children aged 4 or 5 years who are primarily responsible for their feeding.
Not a fit: Patients who may not benefit from this study include those with children who have major food allergies, developmental disabilities, or other medical conditions affecting food intake.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide parents with effective strategies to prevent obesity and promote healthy eating in their food motivated children.
How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown success in family-based obesity prevention efforts, but this specific approach focusing on food motivated children is relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Child ages 4 or 5 years at baseline; 2. Parent/ primary caregiver with legal representation (having 50% or more custody of child); 3. Parent/primary caregiver reporting primary responsibility for child feeding outside of childcare (being with child when they are eating at least two times daily); 4. Caregiver with a cell phone that can be used to send and receive text messages. If there is more than one age-eligible child in the family, we will ask the caregiver to pick the index child. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Parent/primary caregiver \<18 years of age; 2. Child history of major food allergies (e.g., peanuts); 3. Child medication use (e.g., insulin), developmental disability (e.g., autism) or medical condition(s) (e.g., diabetes) known to affect food intake and growth; 4. Foster child.
Where this trial is running
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and 1 other locations
- Temple University - Center for Obesity Research and Education — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States (Recruiting)
- USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center — Houston, Texas, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Jennifer O Fisher, PhD — Temple University
- Study coordinator: Christina Croce, MS
- Email: christina.croce@temple.edu
- Phone: 215-707-8672
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.