An interventional study of Water First in Obesity, sponsored by Stanford University. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 9 Years to 100 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2024-06-27.
Sponsored by Stanford University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Prevention
It is widely argued that the promotion of water consumption, as an alternative to sugar-sweetened beverages, can assist in childhood obesity prevention efforts. Yet no studies have tested this argument in real world schools where flavored milk or juices are available. This trial will fill gaps by examining how promoting fresh water intake-both in schools that do and do not provide access to caloric beverages -impacts children's consumption of food and beverages both during and outside of school, and obesity.
Maintaining a healthy weight is important for young children because childhood obesity is predictive of adult obesity and related chronic illness. Intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs: sodas, flavored milks, fruit-flavored drinks, and other drinks with added sugar) is a major contributor to obesity. This is particularly true for low income children who are more likely to drink SSBs and to be obese. Children spend substantial time in schools where they consume up to 50% of daily calories, including those from SSBs. Consequently, many obesity prevention efforts have targeted reductions in SSB intake in schools. Recently, scientific authorities have also recommended that schools improve the availability of potable and free drinking water - a healthy alternative to SSBs - as a low-cost and feasible obesity prevention strategy. Emerging policies also mandate water access in schools; but implementation is poor. Although the 2010 Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act requires schools participating in federal meal programs to provide free potable water where meals are served, 25% of US schools still fail to do so. And even in schools that offer free water, drinking fountains may be avoided due to concerns about cleanliness or sub-standard water quality. While promotion of drinking water intake in schools is a plausible obesity prevention strategy, no large studies have systematically examined how this tactic can change children's overall dietary patterns and obesity rates in schools that offer SSBs and juices. This study's central hypothesis is that in elementary schools, increased access to fresh water and rigorous promotion of its consumption will reduce student intake of caloric beverages, thereby leading to lower rates of obesity. This hypothesis will be tested through a cluster-randomized trial in 26 low-income elementary schools in the San Francisco Bay Area, in which 13 schools will receive a water promotion intervention and 13 schools will serve as controls. The intervention, based on Social Cognitive Theory and the PRECEDE-PROCEED Model and cultivated in the investigators' prior developmental studies, promotes water consumption by: 1) installing lead-free water stations in cafeterias, physical activity spaces and high-traffic common areas, 2) providing cups and reusable water bottles for students, and 3) conducting a 6-month health education campaign that includes a kick-off play, class lessons, family homework activities, signage, and rewards. From baseline to 7 and 15 months after the start of the intervention, researchers measure differences in: 1) water intake (observations and measurements of water taken from water sources) 2) water and SSB intake via beverage frequency questionnaires and 3) overweight/obesity prevalence between students in intervention and control schools. Total caloric intake from foods and beverages (24-hour food and beverage diaries) are measured at baseline and 7 months only due to budget cuts and their resource intensiveness. If the proposed school water intervention is effective, school officials will have a feasible and low-cost obesity prevention tool. US schools will soon be federally mandated to reevaluate their wellness policies in order to implement new food and beverage regulations. This study presents a timely opportunity to provide leaders with an evidence-based strategy for improving student nutrition and health.
6,296 studies on the registry are indexed under Obesity; 1,692 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 1,861 is above the median of 78 across 4,878 interventional studies indexed under Obesity.
Browse Obesity studies →Stanford University is the lead sponsor of 2,117 studies on the registry; 425 are open to participants now.
Of its 259 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 197 (76%) have results posted.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Intervention group will receive installation of water stations in high traffic areas, schoolwide promotion, and 4th graders will receive a curricula focused on increasing intake of water.
Behavioral: Water First
Participants do not receive an intervention
School administrators and food service managers provide information on school policies and procedures.
The Water First intervention consists of increased access to safe and appealing drinking water in schools, school-wide promotion to increase students' intake of water, and education directed to 4th grade students and their families to increase intake of water.
Number of Participants With Age- and Sex-adjusted BMI% Greater Than or Equal to 85%
Trained research staff will measure students' heights and weights as outlined in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Anthropometry Procedures Manual.
Time frame: Baseline, 7-months, and 15-months after the start of the study.
Number of Participants With Age- and Sex-adjusted BMI% Greater Than or Equal to 95%. Yes or No.
Trained research staff will measure students' heights and weights as outlined in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Anthropometry Procedures Manual.
Time frame: Baseline, 7-months, and 15-months after the start of the study.
BMI Percentile,Mean(SD)
Trained research staff will measure students' heights and weights as outlined in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Anthropometry Procedures Manual.
Time frame: Baseline, 7-months, and 15-months after the start of the study.
BMI, Mean (SD)
Trained research staff will measure students' heights and weights as outlined in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Anthropometry Procedures Manual.
Time frame: Baseline, 7-months, and 15-months after the start of the study.
BMI Z-score, Mean (SD)
Trained research staff will measure students' heights and weights as outlined in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Anthropometry Procedures Manual. BMI z-scores (or standard deviation scores) are used in anthropometry to quantify a measurement's distance from the mean. The measurement is obtained using the sex, age, weight and height of the participants. The z-score is based on United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention growth references for children. A z-score of 0 reflects the 50th percentile based on the reference growth charts. For example, a z-score of 1.5 indicates a child is 1.5 standard deviations above the average value, whereas a z-score of -1.5 means a child is 1.5 standard deviations below the average value.
Time frame: Baseline, 7-months, and 15-months after the start of the study.
Caloric Intake
Food and beverage diaries will be used to calculate daily caloric intake from foods and beverages.
Time frame: Baseline and 7-months after the start of the study
Water Intake - Grams Consumed
Food and beverage diaries will be used to calculate daily water intake.
Time frame: Baseline and 7-months
Beverage Intake
Beverage intake frequency questionnaires will be used to calculate past-week frequency of beverages consumed (times per day).
Time frame: Baseline, 7-months, and 15-months after the start of the study.
Water Intake
Direct observations of water consumed at lunchtime, 4th-grade physical education (PE) classes, and recess. Researchers tallied the number of students using water sources and the student census in the area to estimate the proportion using stations or fountains.
Time frame: Baseline, 7-months, and 15-months after the start of the study.
School Policies and Practices
School administrators and food service director surveys of nutrition and physical activity policies and practices at schools
Time frame: Baseline and 15-months after the start of the study
Cluster-randomized trial: participants were enrolled from schools that were randomized to receive the intervention, or no intervention.
| Milestone | Water Access and Promotion - Students | Control - Students | Food Service Directors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Started | 690 | 594 | 13 |
| Students who started the study | 680 | 582 | 0 |
| Adults who started study | 10 | 12 | 13 |
| Students that received allocated intervention / participated in allocated control | 677 | 572 | 0 |
| Students who completed the study | 548 | 510 | 0 |
| Adults who completed the study | 10 | 12 | 13 |
| Completed | 558 | 522 | 13 |
| Not completed | 132 | 72 | 0 |
Trained research staff will measure students' heights and weights as outlined in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Anthropometry Procedures Manual.
| Participants | Water Access and Promotion - Students | Control - Students |
|---|---|---|
| Baseline | 335 | 273 |
| Month 7 | 315 | 263 |
| Month 15 | 274 | 262 |
Trained research staff will measure students' heights and weights as outlined in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Anthropometry Procedures Manual.
| Participants | Water Access and Promotion - Students | Control - Students |
|---|---|---|
| Baseline | 222 | 165 |
| Month 7 | 202 | 159 |
| Month 15 | 179 | 144 |
Trained research staff will measure students' heights and weights as outlined in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Anthropometry Procedures Manual.
| BMI-for-age/sex percentile | Water Access and Promotion - Students | Control - Students |
|---|---|---|
| Baseline | 73.2 ± 28.1 | 71.9 ± 28.7 |
| Month 7 | 73.7 ± 27.1 | 71.8 ± 28.4 |
| Month 15 | 73.5 ± 28.0 | 72.9 ± 28.5 |
Trained research staff will measure students' heights and weights as outlined in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Anthropometry Procedures Manual.
| kg/m^2 | Water Access and Promotion - Students | Control - Students |
|---|---|---|
| Baseline | 20.4 ± 4.6 | 20.1 ± 4.6 |
| Month 7 | 20.9 ± 4.7 | 20.5 ± 4.7 |
| Month 15 | 21.4 ± 5.1 | 21.2 ± 4.9 |
Trained research staff will measure students' heights and weights as outlined in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Anthropometry Procedures Manual. BMI z-scores (or standard deviation scores) are used in anthropometry to quantify a measurement's distance from the mean. The measurement is obtained using the sex, age, weight and height of the participants. The z-score is based on United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention growth references for children. A z-score of 0 reflects the 50th percentile based on the reference growth charts. For example, a z-score of 1.5 indicates a child is 1.5 standard deviations above the average value, whereas a z-score of -1.5 means a child is 1.5 standard deviations below the average value.
| z-score | Water Access and Promotion - Students | Control - Students |
|---|---|---|
| Baseline | 0.9 ± 1.1 | 0.8 ± 1.1 |
| Month 7 | 0.9 ± 1.1 | 0.8 ± 1.1 |
| Month 15 | 0.9 ± 1.1 | 0.9 ± 1.1 |
Food and beverage diaries will be used to calculate daily caloric intake from foods and beverages.
| kcal/day | Water Access and Promotion - Students | Control - Students |
|---|---|---|
| Total - baseline | 1636 ± 796 | 1699 ± 727 |
| Total - month 7 | 1610 ± 805 | 1676 ± 782 |
| Food - baseline | 1371 ± 705 | 1434 ± 654 |
| Food - month 7 | 1380 ± 727 | 1425 ± 696 |
| Beverage - baseline | 265 ± 214 | 265 ± 212 |
| Beverage - month 7 | 229 ± 227 | 251 ± 231 |
| Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) - baseline | 223 ± 205 | 223 ± 204 |
| SSB - month 7 | 190 ± 199 | 214 ± 223 |
Food and beverage diaries will be used to calculate daily water intake.
| grams/day | Water Access and Promotion - Students | Control - Students |
|---|---|---|
| Baseline | 414 ± 443 | 454 ± 441 |
| Month 7 | 462 ± 576 | 441 ± 472 |
Beverage intake frequency questionnaires will be used to calculate past-week frequency of beverages consumed (times per day).
| times per day | Water Access and Promotion - Students | Control - Students |
|---|---|---|
| Water - baseline | 6.1 ± 4.3 | 5.7 ± 4.2 |
| Water - month 7 | 7.1 ± 5.2 | 5.2 ± 3.9 |
| Water - month 15 | 6.2 ± 4.7 | 4.8 ± 3.8 |
| SSB - baseline | 3.5 ± 4.2 | 3.5 ± 4.2 |
| SSB - month 7 | 2.4 ± 3.5 | 2.8 ± 3.7 |
| SSB - month 15 | 2.1 ± 2.8 | 2.2 ± 2.9 |
| Juice - baseline | 0.8 ± 1.1 | 0.8 ± 1.1 |
| Juice - month 7 | 0.6 ± 1.0 | 0.6 ± 0.8 |
| Juice - month 15 | 0.5 ± 1.0 | 0.5 ± 0.9 |
| Flavored milk - baseline | 0.5 ± 0.9 | 0.5 ± 0.9 |
| Flavored milk - month 7 | 0.4 ± 0.7 | 0.4 ± 0.8 |
| Flavored milk - month 15 | 0.4 ± 0.8 | 0.4 ± 0.9 |
| Plain milk - baseline | 1.2 ± 1.4 | 1.1 ± 1.3 |
| Plain milk - month 7 | 1.2 ± 1.6 | 1.0 ± 1.2 |
| Plain milk - month 15 | 1.1 ± 1.4 | 1.0 ± 1.2 |
Direct observations of water consumed at lunchtime, 4th-grade physical education (PE) classes, and recess. Researchers tallied the number of students using water sources and the student census in the area to estimate the proportion using stations or fountains.
| observations | Water Access and Promotion - Students | Control - Students |
|---|---|---|
| Lunch - baseline | 3.5 ± 6.1 | 3.7 ± 6.1 |
| Lunch - month 7 | 38.3 ± 15.9 | 3.6 ± 4.7 |
| Lunch - month 15 | 9.2 ± 7.7 | 3.2 ± 3.1 |
| Recess - baseline | 6.5 ± 3.4 | 6.1 ± 4.5 |
| Recess - month 7 | 29.3 ± 36.5 | 6.6 ± 4.1 |
| Recess - month 15 | 8.8 ± 3.1 | 3.3 ± 3.0 |
| PE class - baseline | 66.6 ± 87.8 | 47.4 ± 32.2 |
| PE class - month 7 | 89.6 ± 58.7 | 53.2 ± 65.6 |
| PE class - month 15 | 95.0 ± 56.2 | 43.1 ± 38.1 |
School administrators and food service director surveys of nutrition and physical activity policies and practices at schools
Results for this outcome have not been posted.
Collected over 15 months. Non-serious events are listed at a 0% frequency threshold.
| Group | Deaths | Serious | Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Access and Promotion - Students | 1/680 (0.1%) | 1/680 (0.1%) | 0/680 (0%) |
| Water Access and Promotion - School Personnel | 0/10 (0%) | 0/10 (0%) | 0/10 (0%) |
| Control - Students | 0/582 (0%) | 0/582 (0%) | 0/582 (0%) |
| Control - School Personnel | 0/12 (0%) | 0/12 (0%) | 0/12 (0%) |
| Food Service Directors | 0/13 (0%) | 0/13 (0%) | 0/13 (0%) |
| Event | Water Access and Promotion - Students | Water Access and Promotion - School Personnel | Control - Students | Control - School Personnel | Food Service Directors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeathGeneral disorders | 1/680 | 0/10 | 0/582 | 0/12 | 0/13 |
Student who received allocated intervention or participated in allocated control, and adult participants.
| Age, Continuous(years) | Water Access and Promotion - Students | Water Access and Promotion - School Personnel | Control - Students | Control - School Personnel | Food Service Directors | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean | 9.6 ± 0.4 | — | 9.6 ± 0.4 | — | — | 9.6 ± 0.4 |
| Sex: Female, Male(Participants) | Water Access and Promotion - Students | Water Access and Promotion - School Personnel | Control - Students | Control - School Personnel | Food Service Directors | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 318 | 5 | 274 | 6 | 13 | 616 |
| Male | 359 | 5 | 298 | 6 | 0 | 668 |
| Race/Ethnicity, Customized(Participants) | Water Access and Promotion - Students | Water Access and Promotion - School Personnel | Control - Students | Control - School Personnel | Food Service Directors | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Race and ethnicity, No (%) — Mexican American, Latino, Hispanic | 455 | — | 337 | — | — | 792 |
| Race and ethnicity, No (%) — Non-Hispanic Asian | 80 | — | 94 | — | — | 174 |
| Race and ethnicity, No (%) — Non-Hispanic Black | 26 | — | 25 | — | — | 51 |
| Race and ethnicity, No (%) — Non-Hispanic White | 43 | — | 45 | — | — | 88 |
| Race and ethnicity, No (%) — Other (including American Indian or Alaska Native) | 73 | — | 71 | — | — | 144 |
| Region of Enrollment(Participants) | Water Access and Promotion - Students | Water Access and Promotion - School Personnel | Control - Students | Control - School Personnel | Food Service Directors | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 677 | 10 | 572 | 12 | 13 | 1284 |
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