FITLINE: Pediatric Practice-based Obesity Intervention to Support Families

Pediatric Practice-based Obesity Intervention to Support Families:FITLINE

The goal of this study is to investigate whether eight weekly telephone coaching sessions or materials on lifestyle interventions can be beneficial for overweight and obese 8-12 year olds.

The proposed five-year cluster randomized controlled pediatric practice-based trial will compare the effectiveness of two practice-based interventions on improving diet and physical activity and reducing BMI among overweight and obese 8-12 year olds seen in pediatric practice: (1) Fitline-Coaching, consisting of a pediatric practice-based component plus Fitline counseling and workbook, or (2) Fitline-Workbook, consisting of the same practice-based component, but only the family workbook materials mailed over 8 weeks, with no referral to Fitline coaching. Sixteen pediatric primary care practices will be randomized to either the Fitline-Coaching (N=8) or the Fitline-Materials (N=8) condition. Five hundred and twelve parents and their children ages 8-12 with a body mass index (BMI) of > 85th percentile (overweight or obese) will be recruited from the practices to achieve N=400 at 12 month follow-up.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. child BMI >= 85th percentile for age/sex,
2. participating parent and child English speaking,
3. parent has access to a telephone and is available to participate in telephone counseling sessions, and
4. referred by the child's primary care provider.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. planning to move out of the area during the period of study participation,
2. medical condition that precludes adherence to AAP dietary and physical activity recommendations,
3. genetic or endocrine causes of obesity,
4. prescribed medications associated with weight gain,
5. child on psychiatric medications, and/or
6. morbidly obese (> 300 pounds). -