Effectiveness of a paediatric weight management intervention for rural youth (iAmHealthy): Primary outcomes of a cluster randomised control trial

Abstract

SummaryBackgroundYouth in rural areas are disproportionally affected by obesity. Given the unique barriers rural populations face, tailoring and increasing access to obesity interventions is necessary.ObjectiveThis paper evaluates the effectiveness of iAmHealthy, a family‐based paediatric obesity intervention delivered to rural children, compared to a Newsletter Control.MethodsParticipating schools (n = 18) were randomly assigned to iAmHealthy or Newsletter Control. iAmHealthy consists of individual health coaching and group sessions delivered via televideo to a participant's home. The child and parent's body mass index (BMI), child physical activity and child dietary intake were assessed at baseline, post‐treatment (8 months) and follow‐up (20 months). Multilevel modeling estimated the effect of treatment at both time points.ResultsParent and child dyads were recruited (n = 148) and randomised to iAmHealthy (n = 64) or the Control group (n = 84). The Control group had significant increases in child BMIz from baseline to follow‐up. iAmHealthy youth had no significant changes in BMIz from baseline to post or follow‐up. Child dietary intake, physical activity and parent BMI results are also discussed.ConclusionsThis trial extends previous paediatric obesity work by simultaneously increasing convenience and dose of treatment. Results suggest iAmHealthy resulted in a change in BMIz trajectories and long‐term health behaviour for youth.