Overview
The proposed project will test an implementation strategy (the "TrailGuide") for delivering an existing model of pediatric obesity treatment ("Fit Together") that has demonstrated ability to meet published recommendations for improving health outcomes of children with obesity.
Description
Evidence-based treatment for childhood obesity exists, yet a fundamental knowledge-to-action gap has significantly limited the uptake of recommendations into clinical practice, particularly in low-income settings. Persistence of this gap represents a large-scale public health threat, as the earliest generation of children living through the obesity epidemic now enters adulthood, they are the first in US history to have a shorter life expectancy than their parents, mainly due to rising rates of obesity-related cancers and cardiovascular disease. A central challenge in delivering recommended treatment is the intensity; ≥26 hours of face-to-face contact are necessary to achieve health benefits and risk reduction. The objective of the proposed project is to develop and test an implementation strategy that pairs primary care pediatric clinics with the municipal Parks and Recreation (P&R) centers to deliver the current treatment recommendations with high fidelity, while allowing
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Child receives primary care at one of the participating clinics
- Child age 6-11 years old at the time of enrollment in the study
- BMI greater than or equal to 95th percentile for age and sex
- English- or Spanish-speaking
Exclusion Criteria:
- Injuries or disabilities preventing physical activity.
Inclusion criteria for caregivers:
- Age 18 or older
- English or Spanish-speaking
- Caregiver has smartphone and is willing to download app(s) used in the study
- Anticipates bringing the child to the program the majority of the time and spends significant time with the child outside of program hours (necessary in order to accurately answer survey questions about child behavior and child participation in the program, and provide feedback about the program)
- Does not have plans to leave the area during the next 12 months