Preventing Weight Gain and Obesity: Indirect Effects of the Family Check-Up in Early Childhood

Preventing Weight Gain and Obesity: Indirect Effects of the Family Check-Up in Early Childhood The early signs of obesity are observable in early childhood. Although the most promising prevention approaches are family-centered, few relevant early prevention programs exist. This study evaluated the effects of an evidence-based, home-visiting intervention, the Family Check-Up (FCU), on the trajectory of children’s weight gain. The FCU was designed to prevent the development of behavior problems by improving family management practices; children’s weight has not been an explicit target. On the basis of previous research and conceptual models, we hypothesized that intervention effects on parenting practices, specifically caregivers’ use of positive behavior support (PBS) strategies in toddlerhood, would mediate improvements in children’s weight trajectories. A total of 731 indigent caregiver–child dyads from a multisite randomized intervention trial were examined. Observational assessment of parenting and mealtime behaviors occurred from age 2–5 years. The child’s body mass index (BMI) was assessed yearly from age 5–9.5 years. Path analysis with a latent growth model revealed a significant indirect effect of the FCU on the trajectory of BMI in later childhood. Improvements in caregivers’ PBS in toddlerhood, which was related to the nutritional quality of the meals caregivers served to the child during the mealtime task, served as the intervening process. Furthermore, findings indicate that the FCU prevents progression to overweight and obese status amongst at-risk children. These study results add to existing evidence that has demonstrated that family-based interventions aimed at improving general family management skills are effective at preventing weight gain. Future directions are discussed. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Prevention Science Springer Journals

Preventing Weight Gain and Obesity: Indirect Effects of the Family Check-Up in Early Childhood

12 pages
Read Article

Loading next page...
 
/lp/springer-journals/preventing-weight-gain-and-obesity-indirect-effects-of-the-family-40uTduP8gk
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

The early signs of obesity are observable in early childhood. Although the most promising prevention approaches are family-centered, few relevant early prevention programs exist. This study evaluated the effects of an evidence-based, home-visiting intervention, the Family Check-Up (FCU), on the trajectory of children’s weight gain. The FCU was designed to prevent the development of behavior problems by improving family management practices; children’s weight has not been an explicit target. On the basis of previous research and conceptual models, we hypothesized that intervention effects on parenting practices, specifically caregivers’ use of positive behavior support (PBS) strategies in toddlerhood, would mediate improvements in children’s weight trajectories. A total of 731 indigent caregiver–child dyads from a multisite randomized intervention trial were examined. Observational assessment of parenting and mealtime behaviors occurred from age 2–5 years. The child’s body mass index (BMI) was assessed yearly from age 5–9.5 years. Path analysis with a latent growth model revealed a significant indirect effect of the FCU on the trajectory of BMI in later childhood. Improvements in caregivers’ PBS in toddlerhood, which was related to the nutritional quality of the meals caregivers served to the child during the mealtime task, served as the intervening process. Furthermore, findings indicate that the FCU prevents progression to overweight and obese status amongst at-risk children. These study results add to existing evidence that has demonstrated that family-based interventions aimed at improving general family management skills are effective at preventing weight gain. Future directions are discussed.

Journal

Prevention Science – Springer Journals

Published: Sep 30, 2014

References

  • Prevention and treatment of pediatric obesity: An endocrine society clinical practice guideline based on expert opinion
    August, GP; Caprio, S; Fennoy, I; Freemark, M; Kaufman, FR; Lustig, RH; Montori, VM
  • Expert committee recommendations regarding the prevention, assessment, and treatment of child and adolescent overweight and obesity: Summary report
    Barlow, SE
  • On the fit of models to covariances and methodology to the bulletin
    Bentler, PM
  • The critical role of nurturing environments for promoting human well-being
    Biglan, A; Flay, BR; Embry, DD; Sandler, IN
  • The home environments of children in the United States. Part I: Variations by age, ethnicity, and poverty status
    Bradley, RH; Corwyn, RF; McAdoo, HP; Garcia-Coll, C
  • Indirect effects of the family check-up on school-age academic achievement through improvements in parenting in early childhood
    Brennan, LM; Shelleby, EC; Shaw, DS; Gardner, FEM; Dishion, TJ; Wilson, MN
  • Developmental science in the 21st century: Emerging questions, theoretical models, research designs and empirical findings
    Bronfenbrenner, U; Evans, GW
  • Early childhood family intervention and long-term obesity prevention among high-risk minority youth
    Brotman, LM; Dawson-McClure, S; Huang, K-Y; Theise, R; Kamboukos, D; Wang, J; Ogedegbe, G
  • Testing structural equation models
    Browne, WM; Cudeck, R
  • Positive behavior support: Evolution of an applied science
    Carr, EG; Dunlap, G; Horner, RH; Koegel, RL; Turnbull, AP; Sailor, W; Fox, L
  • Children in food-insufficient, low-income families: Prevalence, health, and nutrition status
    Casey, PH; Szeto, K; Lensing, S; Bogle, M; Weber, J
  • Household instability, area poverty, and obesity in urban mothers and their children
    Chambers, EC; Duarte, CS; Yang, FM
  • Availability, accessibility, and preferences for fruit, 100 % fruit juice, and vegetables influence children′s dietary behavior
    Cullen, KW; Baranowski, T; Owens, E; Marsh, T; Rittenberry, L; Moor, C
  • The Family Check-Up with high-risk indigent families: Preventing problem behavior by increasing parents′ positive behavior support in early childhood
    Dishion, TJ; Shaw, DS; Connell, A; Gardner, FEM; Weaver, C; Wilson, M
  • Intervening in children′s lives: An ecological, family-centered approach to mental health care
    Dishion, TJ; Stormshak, EA
  • Poverty and obesity: The role of energy density and energy costs
    Drewnowski, A; Specter, S
  • Childhood obesity: Public-health crisis, common sense cure
    Ebbeling, CB; Pawlak, DB; Ludwig, DS
  • Food and family: A socio-ecological perspective for child development
    Fiese, BH; Jones, BL
  • Evidence-based psychotherapies for children and adolescents
    Forgatch, MS; Patterson, GR
  • Does child temperament moderate the influence of parenting on adjustment?
    Gallagher, KC
  • Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives
    Hu, L; Bentler, PM
  • Early childhood obesity prevention policies
  • Statistical power in randomized intervention studies with noncompliance
    Jo, B
  • Family systems practice in pediatric psychology
    Kazak, AE; Simms, S; Rourke, MT
  • The integration of a family systems approach for understanding youth obesity, physical activity, and dietary programs
    Kitzman-Ulrich, H; Wilson, D; George, S; Lawman, H; Segal, M; Fairchild, A
  • Creating nurturing environments: A science-based framework for promoting child health and development within high-poverty neighborhoods
    Komro, KA; Flay, BR; Biglan, A
  • Evaluation of the Bayesian and maximum likelihood approaches in analyzing structural equation models with small sample sizes
    Lee, S; Song, X
  • Maternal depression and parenting behavior: A meta-analytic review
    Lovejoy, MC; Graczyk, PA; O′Hare, E; Neuman, G
  • Collateral benefits of the Family Check-Up on early childhood school readiness: Indirect effects of parents′ positive behavior support
    Lunkenheimer, ES; Dishion, TJ; Shaw, DS; Connell, AM; Gardner, FEM; Wilson, MN; Skuban, EM
  • Childhood behavioral problems predict young adults′ BMI and obesity: Evidence from a birth cohort study
    Mamun, AA; O′Callaghan, MJ; Cramb, SM; Najman, JM; Williams, GM; Bor, W
  • Bringing order out of chaos: Psychometric characteristics of the Confusion, Hubbub, and Order scale
    Matheny, AP; Wachs, TD; Ludwig, JL; Phillips, K
  • Treatment of pediatric obesity: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials
    McGovern, L; Johnson, JN; Paulo, R; Hettinger, A; Singhal, V; Kamath, C; Montori, VM
  • Bayesian analysis in Mplus: A brief introduction
    Muthén, BO
  • Mplus (version 7.1)
    Muthén, LK; Muthén, BO
  • Identifying risk for obesity in early childhood
    Nader, PR; O′Brien, M; Houts, R; Bradley, R; Belsky, J; Crosnoe, R; Network, HDECCR
  • Prevalence of overweight and obesity in the United States, 1999–2004
    Ogden, CL; Carroll, MD; Curtin, LR; McDowell, MA; Tabak, CJ; Flegal, KM
  • Prevalence of childhood and adult obesity in the United States, 2011–2012
    Ogden, CL; Carroll, MD; Kit, BK; Flegal, KM
  • Development of a WHO growth reference for school-aged children and adolescents
    Onis, MD; Onyango, AW; Borghi, E; Siyam, A; Nishida, C; Siekmann, J
  • The CES-D scale
    Radloff, LS
  • Childhood overweight and the relationship between parent behaviors, parenting style, and family functioning
    Rhee, KE
  • Parenting styles and overweight status in first grade
    Rhee, KE; Lumeng, JC; Appugliese, DP; Kaciroti, N; Bradley, RH
  • Investigations of temperament at three to seven years: The Children′s Behavior Questionnaire
    Rothbart, MK; Ahadi, SA; Hershey, KL; Fisher, P
  • Clarifying parent–child reciprocities during early childhood: The early childhood coercion model
    Scaramella, LV; Leve, LD
  • Psychosocial correlates of physical activity and sedentary leisure habits in young adolescents: The teens eating for energy and nutrition at school study
    Schmitz, KH; Lytle, LA; Phillips, GA; Murray, DM; Birnbaum, AS; Kubik, MY
  • Behavioral control in at-risk toddlers: The influence of the Family Check-Up
    Shelleby, EC; Shaw, DS; Cheong, J; Chang, H; Gardner, FEM; Dishion, TJ; Wilson, MN
  • Indirect effects of fidelity to the Family Check-Up on changes in parenting and early childhood problem behaviors
    Smith, JD; Dishion, TJ; Shaw, DS; Wilson, MN
  • Results of a pragmatic effectiveness-implementation hybrid trial of the Family Check-Up in community mental health agencies
    Smith, JD; Stormshak, EA; Kavanagh, K
  • Handbook of implementation science for psychology in education
    Stormshak, EA; Margolis, K; Huang, CY; Dishion, TJ
  • The relations among cumulative risk, parenting, and behavior problems during early childhood
    Trentacosta, CJ; Hyde, LW; Shaw, DS; Dishion, TJ; Gardner, FEM; Wilson, MN
  • Direct and indirect effects of a family-based intervention in early adolescence on parent–youth relationship quality, late adolescent health, and early adult obesity
    Ryzin, MJ; Nowicka, P
  • The obesity epidemic in the United States—gender, age, socioeconomic, racial/ethnic, and geographic characteristics: A systematic review and meta-regression analysis
    Wang, Y; Beydoun, MA
  • Increasing children′s acceptance of vegetables; a randomized trial of parent-led exposure
    Wardle, J; Cooke, LJ; Gibson, EL; Sapochnik, M; Sheiham, A; Lawson, M
  • Evidence-based psychotherapies for children and adolescents
    Webster-Stratton, C; Reid, MJ
  • Effectiveness of weight management interventions in children: A targeted systematic review for the USPSTF
    Whitlock, EP; O′Connor, EA; Williams, SB; Beil, TL; Lutz, KW
  • A meta-analysis of family-behavioral weight-loss treatments for children
    Young, KM; Northern, JJ; Lister, KM; Drummond, JA; O′Brien, WH
  • Controlled study of critical parent and family factors in the obesigenic environment
    Zeller, MH; Reiter-Purtill, J; Modi, AC; Gutzwiller, J; Vannatta, K; Davies, WH

You’re reading a free preview. Subscribe to read the entire article.

Try 2 weeks free now

DeepDyve is your
personal research library

It’s your single place to instantly
discover and read the research
that matters to you.

Enjoy affordable access to
over 18 million articles from more than
15,000 peer-reviewed journals.

All for just $49/month

Explore the DeepDyve Library

or browse the journals available

Search

Query the DeepDyve database, plus search all of PubMed and Google Scholar seamlessly

Organize

Save any article or search result from DeepDyve, PubMed, and Google Scholar... all in one place.

Access

Get unlimited, online access to over 18 million full-text articles from more than 15,000 scientific journals.

Your journals are on DeepDyve

Read from thousands of the leading scholarly journals from SpringerNature, Elsevier, Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford University Press and more.

All the latest content is available, no embargo periods.

See the journals in your area

DeepDyve

Freelancer

DeepDyve

Pro

Price

FREE

$49/month
$360/year

Save searches from
Google Scholar,
PubMed

Create folders to
organize your research

Export folders, citations

Read DeepDyve articles

Abstract access only

Unlimited access to over
18 million full-text articles

Print

20 pages / month

PDF Discount

20% off

Sign up
for free
Start 14 day
Free Trial