Mountain West Family Healthy Weight Program
Mountain West Prevention Research Center Core Research Project
This project will test whether text message outreach and direct enrollment in a community healthy‑weight program help lower‑income families with a 5–12 year old child with obesity sign up for and stay engaged in the program.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 600 (estimated) |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Utah Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Salt Lake City, Utah) |
| Trial ID | NCT07479498 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This hybrid type 3 effectiveness-implementation sequential multiple assignment randomized trial (HEI‑SMART) identifies children aged 5–12 with BMI ≥85th percentile using clinic electronic health records and contacts caregivers via text messaging. Participating clinical sites in the Mountain West share data with the research team to enable outreach, while community-based organizations deliver the Building Healthy Families (BHF) program and supply de‑identified program data. Enrolled families are randomized in a staged design focusing first on recruitment method and then on retention, comparing text-only outreach versus text plus motivational retention messages and direct enrollment strategies. Community Implementation Teams receive training and participate in learning collaboratives to support program fidelity and local adaptation.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are lower‑income families in the Mountain West with a child aged 5–12 whose BMI is at or above the 85th percentile, who have had a clinic visit in the past year, and whose caregiver has not opted out of text messages and has valid contact information.
Not a fit: Families where the child has a medical contraindication to moderate physical activity, severe cognitive or physical impairment that prevents participation, or caregivers who have opted out of text communication or lack valid contact information are unlikely to benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could increase enrollment and retention in community healthy‑weight programs and lead to better family eating and activity habits for children with obesity.
How similar studies have performed: Previous programs combining text messaging with community‑based healthy lifestyle programs have shown improved engagement and modest behavior change, though sequential adaptive (SMART) implementation designs in rural low‑income populations are less common.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Families Parent or legal caregiver and at least one child aged 5 to 12 years Child identified through electronic health record data from a participating clinical organization Child has had at least one clinical encounter at the participating site within the past 12 months Child has body mass index (BMI) at or above the 85th percentile for age and sex Caregiver has not opted out of receiving text communication from the clinic Valid mailing address and telephone number listed in the electronic health record Parents and/or Caregivers Parent or legal caregiver of an eligible child Responsible for the child's care and able to provide consent for program participation Children Aged 5 to 12 years at time of identification Meet all criteria listed above Exclusion Criteria: Child has a medical condition or contraindication that precludes participation in moderate physical activity Child has severe cognitive or physical impairment that would prevent participation in the intervention Child or family is currently participating in another structured weight management or obesity treatment program Family opts out of receiving study-related communications
Where this trial is running
Salt Lake City, Utah
- The University of Utah — Salt Lake City, Utah, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Paul A Estabrooks, PhD — University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Madeleine L French, MS
- Email: madeleine.french@utah.edu
- Phone: 6166175034
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.