202868 Translational research to prevent childhood obesity by promoting healthy eating and activity and effective parenting in low income families

Monday, November 9, 2009

Tisa Fontaine Hill, MPH , Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Katherine L. Dickin, PhD , Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Wendy Wolfe, PhD , Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Jamie Dollahite, PhD, RD , Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Megan Lent, BA , Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Purpose: Collaboration for Health, Activity, and Nutrition in Children's Environments (CHANCE), an intervention to prevent childhood obesity among low-income children, was developed within the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program in New York State. Small group, dialogue-based, hands-on nutrition education sessions focus on parenting education strategies to shape children's behavior and home environments to promote physical activity and nutrition practices linked to prevention of unhealthy weight gain.

Methods: Best practices in parenting and childhood obesity prevention were identified and crafted into an 8-session curriculum for parents/caregivers. Process evaluation informed revisions to effectively target behaviors. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected including demographics of participants recruited and retained, behavior changes reported by participants, interviews of participants, and detailed reports by and interviews of educators regarding how sessions were implemented and problems encountered.

Results: The intervention was implemented as designed and evaluation data guided program improvements. For example, workshop duration, curriculum, and program model (e.g. need for meal, childcare) were revised to meet participants' needs. Partnering with other agencies serving pre-formed groups of low-income parents enhanced recruitment and retention success. Collaborative involvement of usual program staff with researchers in every part of the project (e.g. curriculum development, fidelity assessment, evaluation of effectiveness) contributed to a more feasible, sustainable intervention. Curriculum content included nutrition and active play messages, key parenting skills, food preparation, and modeling active play.

Conclusions: Material development and testing in a sustainable program context provides important advantages including improving the likelihood of translating intervention research into community practice.

Learning Objectives:
1. Explain the advantages of developing and testing an intervention in a sustainable program context. 2. Discuss the importance of collaboration between community partners, field staff, and university partners in developing an effective community-based intervention. 3. Identify parenting skills that can support key nutrition and active play messages to prevent childhood obesity.

Keywords: Nutrition, Obesity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: • Master’s of Public Health Program, Oregon State University, March 2005 Master’s Thesis: Father's perceptions of their impact on children's health and well-being: An exploratory study • BA in Women’s Studies, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, December 1994 Extension Associate 09/06 – present CHANCE (Collaboration for Health, Activity, and Nutrition in Children’s Environments) Coordinator Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, 343 MVR Hall, Ithaca, New York 14853 Poster Session – ISBNPA Annual Meeting – Banff, Canada, May 2008 Measuring behavior change in a program to help low-income parents prevent unhealthy weight gain in children, Katherine Dickin, PhD, Jamie Dollahite, PhD, Tisa Fontaine Hill, MPH, Wendy Wolfe, PhD Presentation – ISBNPA Annual Meeting – Banff, Canada, May 2008 Translational Research to Develop an Educational Program Promoting Healthy Eating and Activity and Effective Parenting in Low-Income Families, Jamie Dollahite, PhD, Katherine Dickin, PhD, Tisa Fontaine Hill, MPH, Wendy Wolfe, PhD Poster Session – New York State Dept of Public Health Obesity Summit – Albany, NY, November 2006 CHANCE (Collaboration for Health, Activity and Nutrition in Children’s Environments) Tisa Fontaine Hill, MPH, Jamie Dollahite, PhD, Katherine Dickin, PhD, Wendy Wolfe, PhD Poster Session – American Public Health Association Annual Conference – Philadelphia, PA, December 2005 Father's perceptions of their impact on children's health and well-being: An exploratory study
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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