A Positive Food Parenting Intervention to Promote Healthy Growth in Children at Risk for Obesity

A Positive Food Parenting Intervention to Promote Healthy Growth in Children at Risk for Obesity

This study is the pilot of a 12 - week positive food parenting intervention focused on structure-based and autonomy promoting practices. The intervention aims to give parents the tools to promote healthy child growth and improve diet quality. The investigators are piloting to assess feasibility and efficacy of the intervention through examining participant retention, impact on parent feeding practices, and impact on parent and child diet quality.

PARENT CRITERIA:

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age > 18 years old.
• Have a child between the ages of 5 - 11 who is at risk for obesity (child BMI percentile > 85th) or parent it concerned about their child developing overweight or obesity
• Low use of positive food parenting (Defined as: low reports of individual nutrition education/ knowledge OR reports low levels of structure, involvement, or encouragement in their food parenting practices)
• Must be responsible for feeding their eligible child at least 50% of the time.
• Fluent in English.
• Have access to internet and a Zoom compatible device.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Age is < 18 years old. Their child is determined ineligible (based on BMI percentile and age).
• Does not report low use of positive food parenting (as defined above).
• Is responsible for feeding their eligible child < 50% of the time.
• Not fluent in English.
• Does not have access to internet and a Zoom compatible device.
• On medication that could influence their eating or feeding behaviors.

CHILD CRITERIA:

Inclusion Criteria:

• Their parent/ guardian is eligible and participating in the study.
• Ages 5 - 11
• Is not current diagnosed with a clinical eating disorder (ED).
• Is not on any medications, or have any conditions, that could influence the child's taste, appetite, or olfactory sensory responsiveness.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Their parent/ guardian is not eligible nor participating in the study.
• Below the age of 5 and above the age of 11.
• BMI percentile < 85th and/or > 97th.
• Current diagnosis of a clinical eating disorder (ED)
• Medications or conditions that could influence the child's taste, appetite, or olfactory sensory responsiveness.