NET‐Works paediatric obesity prevention trial: 66 month outcomes

Abstract

SummaryBackground and ObjectivesThe NET‐Works trial (2012–2018) randomized 534 children ages 2–4 years at baseline and their caregivers to either a 3‐year multicomponent obesity prevention intervention or a control group. This research examined treatment effects on body mass index and other outcomes at 66 months.MethodsParent–child dyads (n = 338) who agreed to participate in a 66 month measurement visit were measured for child BMI, physical activity, diet, and cardiometabolic risk factor variables.ResultsAt 66 months, no significant treatment effects were observed on BMI (Effect = −0.38; 95% CI = −1.13, 0.37). Subgroup results were consistent with the NET‐Works 36 month results. Children with overweight at baseline in the intervention group gained significantly less BMI versus children with overweight in the control group (Effect = −1.28; 95% CI = −2.48, −0.07). Among Hispanic children, those in the intervention gained significantly less BMI than those in the control group (Effect = −1.04; 95% CI = −1.97, −0.11).ConclusionsEvidence suggests that early intervention with children at highest risk for obesity, using community‐based, multicomponent, multisetting interventions, may be effective in reducing excess weight gain and obesity among certain subgroups of children. The intervention appeared to be effective in slowing BMI gain 66 months after randomization among children who were already overweight at ages 2–4 years and among children of Hispanic ethnicity.