CClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT04552678Healthy BodiesUpdated Mar 5, 2021

Healthy Bodies Project to Prevent Childhood Obesity

An interventional study of Healthy Eating, Active Play, Self-Regulation, Parent Education and Healthy Eating, Active Play, Self-Regulation in Obesity, Childhood, sponsored by Penn State University. Completed. Open to participants aged 3 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2021-03-05.

Sponsored by Penn State University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Prevention

From the registry’s dates

  • Registered 5 years 1 month after the study started (first participant enrolled Aug 2015, registered Sep 2020).
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
2,480
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
3 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The goal of this study is to evaluate components of a preschool-based intervention designed to (1) increase children's nutrition knowledge, (2) increase physical activity in childcare settings, (3) increase emotional, behavioral and eating-related regulation, and (4) provide guidance to parents/caregivers about appropriate parenting and child-feeding strategies that promote healthy eating behaviors, dietary patterns and physical activity in preschool-aged children. The long-term goal is to help children develop healthy habits that reduce risk for obesity.

Read the detailed description

Findings from intervention studies designed to prevent obesity among preschool children are mixed. One approach to stemming the development of obesity in childhood is to alter children's choices and environments in ways that promote food literacy, acceptance of healthy foods, physical activity and self-regulation. Research on factors that influence the development of obesity in children has identified factors in children's environments that are potential targets for prevention programs. The goal of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of components designed for a preschool-based approach to preventing obesity in children. Using an innovative approach to optimizing behavioral interventions, the multiphase optimization strategy (MOST), we will examine the effects of a 28-week, randomized set of experiments designed to (1) increase children's nutrition knowledge, (2) increase physical activity in childcare settings, (3) increase emotional, behavioral and eating-related regulation, and (4) provide guidance to parents/caregivers about appropriate parenting and child-feeding strategies that promote healthy eating behaviors, dietary patterns and physical activity in preschool-aged children. Participants will include over 1300 predominantly low-income preschool children ages 3 to 5 years attending center-based childcare settings in Pennsylvania (\~100 classrooms). The proposed study will provide information on the most efficacious components that produce measurable changes in children's nutrition knowledge and obesity-related behaviors. The results of this study will be used to inform the design of a randomized controlled trial to prevent obesity in children.

02

Conditions studied

  • Obesity, Childhood

Keywords

  • nutrition knowledge
  • food literacy
  • physical activity
  • executive function
  • emotion regulation
  • eating regulation
  • parenting
  • food parenting
03

In context

Obesity

6,296 studies on the registry are indexed under Obesity; 1,692 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 2,480 is above the median of 78 across 4,878 interventional studies indexed under Obesity.

Browse Obesity studies →

Lead sponsor

Penn State University is the lead sponsor of 263 studies on the registry; 51 are open to participants now.

Of its 13 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 10 (77%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
3 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

  • Children ages 3 to 5 years enrolled in full-day, center-based childcare programs
  • Caregiver ≥ 18 years of age
  • Caregiver responsible for providing meals for child at least half of the time
  • Fluent in English (caregiver and child)

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Developmental delays or disorders that affect learning, mobility and eating
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Factorial assignment
Masking
Single (Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
2,480 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Healthy Eating, Active Play, Self-Regulation, Parent Education

    Classrooms receive all curricula (Food Literacy, Healthy Eating, Active Play, Self-Regulation Curriculum) and Parent Education

    Behavioral: Healthy Eating, Active Play, Self-Regulation, Parent Education

  • Experimental
    Healthy Eating, Active Play, Self-Regulation

    Classrooms receive all curricula (Food Literacy, Healthy Eating, Active Play, Self-Regulation Curriculum), but no Parent Education

    Behavioral: Healthy Eating, Active Play, Self-Regulation

  • Experimental
    Healthy Eating, Active Play, Parent Education

    Classrooms receive the core Food Literacy Curriculum, the Healthy Eating Curriculum, the Active Play Curriculum, and Parent Education

    Behavioral: Healthy Eating, Active Play, Parent Education

  • Experimental
    Healthy Eating + Active Play

    Classrooms receive the core Food Literacy Curriculum, the Healthy Eating Curriculum, the Active Play Curriculum, but no Parent Education

    Behavioral: Healthy Eating + Active Play

  • Experimental
    Healthy Eating, Self-Regulation, Parent Education

    Classrooms receive the core Food Literacy Curriculum, the Healthy Eating Curriculum, the Self-Regulation Curriculum, and Parent Education

    Behavioral: Healthy Eating, Self-Regulation, Parent Education

  • Experimental
    Healthy Eating + Self-Regulation

    Classrooms receive the core Food Literacy Curriculum, the Healthy Eating Curriculum, the Self-Regulation Curriculum, but no Parent Education

    Behavioral: Healthy Eating + Self-Regulation

  • Experimental
    Healthy Eating + Parent Education

    Classrooms receive the core Food Literacy Curriculum, the Healthy Eating Curriculum, and Parent Education

    Behavioral: Healthy Eating + Parent Education

  • Experimental
    Healthy Eating Only

    Classrooms receive the core Food Literacy Curriculum, the Healthy Eating Curriculum, but no Parent Education

    Behavioral: Healthy Eating Only

  • Experimental
    Active Play, Self-Regulation, Parent Education

    Classrooms receive the core Food Literacy Curriculum, the Active Play Curriculum, the Self-Regulation Curriculum, and Parent Education

    Behavioral: Active Play, Self-Regulation, Parent Education

  • Experimental
    Active Play + Self-Regulation

    Classrooms receive the core Food Literacy Curriculum, the Active Play Curriculum, the Self-Regulation Curriculum, but no Parent Education

    Behavioral: Active Play + Self-Regulation

  • Experimental
    Active Play + Parent Education

    Classrooms receive the core Food Literacy Curriculum, the Active Play Curriculum, and Parent Education

    Behavioral: Active Play + Parent Education

  • Experimental
    Active Play Only

    Classrooms receive the core Food Literacy Curriculum, the Active Play Curriculum, but no Parent Education

    Behavioral: Active Play Only

  • Experimental
    Self-Regulation + Parent Education

    Classrooms receive the core Food Literacy Curriculum, the Self-Regulation Curriculum, and Parent Education

    Behavioral: Self-Regulation + Parent Education

  • Experimental
    Self-Regulation Only

    Classrooms receive the core Food Literacy Curriculum, the Self-Regulation Curriculum, but no Parent Education

    Behavioral: Self-Regulation Only

  • Experimental
    Food Literacy + Parent Education

    Classrooms receive the core Food Literacy Curriculum, and parents are invited to complete web-based education modules.

    Behavioral: Food Literacy + Parent Education

  • Experimental
    Food Literacy Only

    Classrooms only receive the core Food Literacy Curriculum, and no other intervention materials or parent education.

    Behavioral: Food Literacy Only

Interventions

  • BehavioralHealthy Eating, Active Play, Self-Regulation, Parent Education

    In addition to a 27-lesson, core food literacy curriculum that children across all conditions will receive, children in this condition will also be exposed to an 11-lesson Healthy Eating curriculum, an 11-lesson Active Play curriculum, and an 11-lesson Self-Regulation curriculum. Parents will receive access to web-based resources on food literacy, and will be invited to complete 18 web-based education modules on topics including improving household routines, managing children's behaviors and emotions, improving children's sleep patterns, improving access to healthy foods, healthy meal and snack preparation, modeling healthy eating and activity behaviors, and improving family activity patterns.

  • BehavioralHealthy Eating, Active Play, Self-Regulation

    In addition to a 27-lesson, core food literacy curriculum that children across all conditions will receive, children in this condition will also be exposed to an 11-lesson Healthy Eating curriculum, an 11-lesson Active Play curriculum, and an 11-lesson Self-Regulation curriculum. Parents will receive access to web-based resources on food literacy.

  • BehavioralHealthy Eating, Active Play, Parent Education

    In addition to a 27-lesson, core food literacy curriculum that children across all conditions will receive, children in this condition will also be exposed to an 11-lesson Healthy Eating curriculum, and an 11-lesson Active Play curriculum. Parents will receive access to web-based resources on food literacy, and will be invited to complete 18 web-based education modules on topics including improving household routines, managing children's behaviors and emotions, improving children's sleep patterns, improving access to healthy foods, healthy meal and snack preparation, modeling healthy eating and activity behaviors, and improving family activity patterns.

  • BehavioralHealthy Eating + Active Play

    In addition to a 27-lesson, core food literacy curriculum that children across all conditions will receive, children in this condition will also be exposed to an 11-lesson Healthy Eating curriculum, and an 11-lesson Active Play curriculum. Parents will receive access to web-based resources on food literacy.

  • BehavioralHealthy Eating, Self-Regulation, Parent Education

    In addition to a 27-lesson, core food literacy curriculum that children across all conditions will receive, children in this condition will also be exposed to an 11-lesson Healthy Eating curriculum, and an 11-lesson Self-Regulation curriculum. Parents will receive access to web-based resources on food literacy, and will be invited to complete 18 web-based education modules on topics including improving household routines, managing children's behaviors and emotions, improving children's sleep patterns, improving access to healthy foods, healthy meal and snack preparation, modeling healthy eating and activity behaviors, and improving family activity patterns.

  • BehavioralHealthy Eating + Self-Regulation

    In addition to a 27-lesson, core food literacy curriculum that children across all conditions will receive, children in this condition will also be exposed to an 11-lesson Healthy Eating curriculum, and an 11-lesson Self-Regulation curriculum. Parents will receive access to web-based resources on food literacy.

  • BehavioralHealthy Eating + Parent Education

    In addition to a 27-lesson, core food literacy curriculum that children across all conditions will receive, children in this condition will also be exposed to an 11-lesson Healthy Eating curriculum. Parents will receive access to web-based resources on food literacy, and will be invited to complete 18 web-based education modules on topics including improving household routines, managing children's behaviors and emotions, improving children's sleep patterns, improving access to healthy foods, healthy meal and snack preparation, modeling healthy eating and activity behaviors, and improving family activity patterns.

  • BehavioralHealthy Eating Only

    In addition to a 27-lesson, core food literacy curriculum that children across all conditions will receive, children in this condition will also be exposed to an 11-lesson Healthy Eating curriculum. Parents will receive access to web-based resources on food literacy.

  • BehavioralActive Play, Self-Regulation, Parent Education

    In addition to a 27-lesson, core food literacy curriculum that children across all conditions will receive, children in this condition will also be exposed to an 11-lesson Active Play curriculum, and an 11-lesson Self-Regulation curriculum. Parents will receive access to web-based resources on food literacy, and will be invited to complete 18 web-based education modules on topics including improving household routines, managing children's behaviors and emotions, improving children's sleep patterns, improving access to healthy foods, healthy meal and snack preparation, modeling healthy eating and activity behaviors, and improving family activity patterns.

  • BehavioralActive Play + Self-Regulation

    In addition to a 27-lesson, core food literacy curriculum that children across all conditions will receive, children in this condition will also be exposed to an 11-lesson Active Play curriculum, and an 11-lesson Self-Regulation curriculum. Parents will receive access to web-based resources on food literacy.

  • BehavioralActive Play + Parent Education

    In addition to a 27-lesson, core food literacy curriculum that children across all conditions will receive, children in this condition will also be exposed to an 11-lesson Active Play curriculum. Parents will receive access to web-based resources on food literacy, and will be invited to complete 18 web-based education modules on topics including improving household routines, managing children's behaviors and emotions, improving children's sleep patterns, improving access to healthy foods, healthy meal and snack preparation, modeling healthy eating and activity behaviors, and improving family activity patterns.

  • BehavioralActive Play Only

    In addition to a 27-lesson, core food literacy curriculum that children across all conditions will receive, children in this condition will also be exposed to an 11-lesson Active Play curriculum. Parents will receive access to web-based resources on food literacy.

  • BehavioralSelf-Regulation + Parent Education

    In addition to a 27-lesson, core food literacy curriculum that children across all conditions will receive, children in this condition will also be exposed to an 11-lesson Self-Regulation curriculum. Parents will receive access to web-based resources on food literacy, and will be invited to complete 18 web-based education modules on topics including improving household routines, managing children's behaviors and emotions, improving children's sleep patterns, improving access to healthy foods, healthy meal and snack preparation, modeling healthy eating and activity behaviors, and improving family activity patterns.

  • BehavioralSelf-Regulation Only

    In addition to a 27-lesson, core food literacy curriculum that children across all conditions will receive, children in this condition will also be exposed to an 11-lesson Self-Regulation curriculum. Parents will receive access to web-based resources on food literacy.

  • BehavioralFood Literacy + Parent Education

    Children in this condition will only receive a 27-lesson, core food literacy curriculum (children across all conditions will receive this curriculum). Parents will receive access to web-based resources on food literacy, and will be invited to complete 18 web-based education modules on topics including improving household routines, managing children's behaviors and emotions, improving children's sleep patterns, improving access to healthy foods, healthy meal and snack preparation, modeling healthy eating and activity behaviors, and improving family activity patterns.

  • BehavioralFood Literacy Only

    Children in this condition will only receive a 27-lesson, core food literacy curriculum (children across all conditions will receive this curriculum). Parents will receive access to web-based resources on food literacy.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Child Body Mass Index (BMI)

    Absolute BMI, BMI z-score (BMIz), BMI percentile (BMIp) calculated from measured height and weight

    Time frame: Change from baseline to post-assessment (5-6months) and follow-up (~9 months)

  2. Nutrition Knowledge

    Ability to identify energy- vs. nutrient-dense foods using the Food Knowledge Procedure

    Time frame: Change from baseline to post-assessment (5-6months) and follow-up (~9 months)

  3. Food Choices

    Children's choices between energy- vs. nutrient-dense foods for a hypothetical lunch using the Snack Selection Procedure

    Time frame: Change from baseline to post-assessment (5-6months) and follow-up (~9 months)

  4. Physical and Sedentary Activity

    Children's engagement in sedentary and moderate-vigorous physical activity during the school day objectively measured via accelerometry.

    Time frame: Change from Baseline to Mid-Intervention (~3 months), Post-Intervention (5-6 months) and follow-up (~9 months)

  5. Children's Behavioral Regulation - Observed

    Behavioral tasks that measure child inhibitory control: Walk a Line Slowly, Peg/Pencil Tapping Procedure and Choosing Dinky Toys. Assessor reports of children's emotions, attention, and behavior: Preschool Self-Regulation Assessor Report

    Time frame: Change from baseline to post-assessment (5-6months) and follow-up (~9 months)

  6. Children's Behavioral Regulation - Parent- and Teacher-Report

    Teacher reports of children's attentional focusing, impulsivity and inhibitory control: Child Behavior Questionnaire Parent reports of children's impulsivity and inhibitory control: Child Behavior Questionnaire

    Time frame: Change from baseline to post-assessment (5-6months)

  7. Children's Emotion Regulation - Parent- and Teacher-Report

    Parent and Teacher reports of children's anger/frustration: Child Behavior Questionnaire

    Time frame: Change from baseline to post-assessment (5-6months)

  8. Children's Eating in the Absence of Hunger

    Parent reported measure of children's eating in the absence of hunger due to negative emotions, fatigue/boredom, or external food cues.

    Time frame: Change from baseline to post-assessment (5-6months)

Secondary outcomes

  1. Children's Appetitive Behaviors

    Parent report of children's appetitive trait-like behaviors (responsiveness to food, enjoyment of food, satiety responsiveness, slowness in eating, fussiness, emotional overeating, emotional undereating, and desire for drinks). Measured using the Children's Eating Behavior Questionnaire.

    Time frame: Baseline, Post-Intervention (5-6 months)

  2. Children's Food Requests

    Parental reports of children's requests for fruits, vegetables, whole grains and dairy.

    Time frame: Baseline, Post-Intervention (5-6 months)

  3. Parental reports of children's requests for fruits, vegetables, whole grains and dairy

    Parent reported measure of children's eating in the absence of hunger due to negative emotions, fatigue/boredom, or external food cues.

    Time frame: Baseline, Post-Intervention (5-6 months)

Other outcomes

  1. Food Parenting Practices

    Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire to assess parental monitoring, restriction, pressure to eat, modeling, teaching about nutrition, child involvement, using food for emotional regulation, using food as a reward, child control in eating, healthy food availability, and encouraging balance. Child Feeding Questionnaire to assess child picky eating, and parents' perception of time for healthy eating.

    Time frame: Change from baseline to post-assessment (5-6months)

  2. Sociodemographics

    Parent Demographic Questionnaire to assess parent age, BMI, race, education, employment, marital status and household income.

    Time frame: Change from baseline to post-assessment (5-6months)

  3. Parent Physical Activity

    International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ, short form) to classify parents as sedentary, moderately active or vigorously active.

    Time frame: Change from baseline to post-assessment (5-6months)

  4. Family Media Use Patterns

    Family Media Patterns questionnaire developed by the research group to measure screen use and eating during televisions viewing in children and parents.

    Time frame: Change from baseline to post-assessment (5-6months)

  5. Activity Parenting Practices

    Questionnaire to measure parents' use of TV viewing as a form of family recreation, frequency of TV viewing during mealtime and children's time spent watching television (TV) or playing on computer/phone/tablet.

    Time frame: Change from baseline to post-assessment (5-6months)

  6. Child Sleep Patterns

    Parent report of children's sleep duration, sleep timing and napping patterns

    Time frame: Change from baseline to post-assessment (5-6months)

  7. Food Availability, Modeling and Encouragement

    Fruit and Vegetable, whole grain and dairy questionnaires, developed by the research team, to assess fruit, vegetable, whole grain and dairy availability in the home, parental encouragement to consume, and parental modeling of consumption.

    Time frame: Change from baseline to post-assessment (5-6months)

07

Study locations

No study locations are listed for this record.

08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No — There is no finalized plan for which and how individual participant data will be shared. This plan will be developed in collaboration with the sponsoring institution and funders.

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Mar 5, 2021, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT04552678
Lead sponsor
Penn State University
Responsible party
Lori Francis (Associate Professor of Biobehavioral Health, Penn State University) — Principal investigator
First posted
Sep 17, 2020
Start date
Aug 2015
Primary completion
Dec 15, 2020
Completion
Dec 15, 2020
Last update
Mar 5, 2021

Study contacts

Lori A Francis, Ph.D.
principal investigator · The Pennsylvania State University

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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