The effectiveness of a 10-week family-focused e-Health healthy lifestyle program for school-aged children with overweight or obesity: a randomised control trial
Abstract Background Electronic health (e-Health) interventions may increase effectiveness and address limitations of conventional in-person childhood obesity treatment programs. This study evaluates the effectiveness of a 10-week e-Health (web-based) healthy lifestyle program for school-aged childre...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-21120-5 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1841544187674099712 |
|---|---|
| author | Diana Zhu Aimee L. Dordevic Simone Gibson Zoe E. Davidson |
| author_facet | Diana Zhu Aimee L. Dordevic Simone Gibson Zoe E. Davidson |
| author_sort | Diana Zhu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Electronic health (e-Health) interventions may increase effectiveness and address limitations of conventional in-person childhood obesity treatment programs. This study evaluates the effectiveness of a 10-week e-Health (web-based) healthy lifestyle program for school-aged children with overweight/obesity. Methods In this randomised control trial (RCT), families with children aged 7–13 years with overweight/obesity (body mass index, BMI ≥ 85th percentile), living in Victoria, Australia, were recruited. Families were randomised to intervention or waitlist control and received the 10-week web-based program. The primary outcome was the change in children’s BMI z-score over 10 weeks. Other outcomes included change in children’s waist circumference, dietary intake, physical activity, and quality of life over 10 weeks. Results Of 148 children (125 families) recruited, 102 children (85 families) completed the RCT. A significant decrease in children’s BMI z-scores was observed in the intervention compared to the control group over 10 weeks (mean difference 0.11; 95% CI, 0.02–0.20). The web-based program was also effective in improving children’s quality of life and lifestyle behaviour changes over 10 weeks. In the intervention group, there was a significant increase in children’s quality of life scores (intervention versus control: median change (IQR) = 11 (3, 17) versus 1 (-3, 7); p = 0.034), overall diet quality scores (6 (2, 10) versus 2 (-3, 5); p < 0.001), and daily physical activity levels (5.2 (-2.6, 12.8) versus − 0.2 (-8.2, 4.5); p = 0.022) compared to the control group. Conclusions A web-based healthy lifestyle program effectively improved short-term health-related outcomes in children with overweight/obesity. Further research is needed to identify determinants of program effectiveness, evaluate sustained effects, and equitably tailor childhood obesity e-Health interventions to diverse populations. Trial registration This study was registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (ACTRN12621001762842) on November 11, 2021, https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=383053 . |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2b79bbe08b5a4afbbee43c356d024785 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-2b79bbe08b5a4afbbee43c356d0247852025-01-12T12:43:06ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-01-0125111510.1186/s12889-024-21120-5The effectiveness of a 10-week family-focused e-Health healthy lifestyle program for school-aged children with overweight or obesity: a randomised control trialDiana Zhu0Aimee L. Dordevic1Simone Gibson2Zoe E. Davidson3Department of Nutrition Dietetics and Food, Monash UniversityDepartment of Nutrition Dietetics and Food, Monash UniversitySchool of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Level 5 Block E, Monash Medical CentreDepartment of Nutrition Dietetics and Food, Monash UniversityAbstract Background Electronic health (e-Health) interventions may increase effectiveness and address limitations of conventional in-person childhood obesity treatment programs. This study evaluates the effectiveness of a 10-week e-Health (web-based) healthy lifestyle program for school-aged children with overweight/obesity. Methods In this randomised control trial (RCT), families with children aged 7–13 years with overweight/obesity (body mass index, BMI ≥ 85th percentile), living in Victoria, Australia, were recruited. Families were randomised to intervention or waitlist control and received the 10-week web-based program. The primary outcome was the change in children’s BMI z-score over 10 weeks. Other outcomes included change in children’s waist circumference, dietary intake, physical activity, and quality of life over 10 weeks. Results Of 148 children (125 families) recruited, 102 children (85 families) completed the RCT. A significant decrease in children’s BMI z-scores was observed in the intervention compared to the control group over 10 weeks (mean difference 0.11; 95% CI, 0.02–0.20). The web-based program was also effective in improving children’s quality of life and lifestyle behaviour changes over 10 weeks. In the intervention group, there was a significant increase in children’s quality of life scores (intervention versus control: median change (IQR) = 11 (3, 17) versus 1 (-3, 7); p = 0.034), overall diet quality scores (6 (2, 10) versus 2 (-3, 5); p < 0.001), and daily physical activity levels (5.2 (-2.6, 12.8) versus − 0.2 (-8.2, 4.5); p = 0.022) compared to the control group. Conclusions A web-based healthy lifestyle program effectively improved short-term health-related outcomes in children with overweight/obesity. Further research is needed to identify determinants of program effectiveness, evaluate sustained effects, and equitably tailor childhood obesity e-Health interventions to diverse populations. Trial registration This study was registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (ACTRN12621001762842) on November 11, 2021, https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=383053 .https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-21120-5E-healthObesityWeb-basedFamily-based |
| spellingShingle | Diana Zhu Aimee L. Dordevic Simone Gibson Zoe E. Davidson The effectiveness of a 10-week family-focused e-Health healthy lifestyle program for school-aged children with overweight or obesity: a randomised control trial BMC Public Health E-health Obesity Web-based Family-based |
| title | The effectiveness of a 10-week family-focused e-Health healthy lifestyle program for school-aged children with overweight or obesity: a randomised control trial |
| title_full | The effectiveness of a 10-week family-focused e-Health healthy lifestyle program for school-aged children with overweight or obesity: a randomised control trial |
| title_fullStr | The effectiveness of a 10-week family-focused e-Health healthy lifestyle program for school-aged children with overweight or obesity: a randomised control trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | The effectiveness of a 10-week family-focused e-Health healthy lifestyle program for school-aged children with overweight or obesity: a randomised control trial |
| title_short | The effectiveness of a 10-week family-focused e-Health healthy lifestyle program for school-aged children with overweight or obesity: a randomised control trial |
| title_sort | effectiveness of a 10 week family focused e health healthy lifestyle program for school aged children with overweight or obesity a randomised control trial |
| topic | E-health Obesity Web-based Family-based |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-21120-5 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT dianazhu theeffectivenessofa10weekfamilyfocusedehealthhealthylifestyleprogramforschoolagedchildrenwithoverweightorobesityarandomisedcontroltrial AT aimeeldordevic theeffectivenessofa10weekfamilyfocusedehealthhealthylifestyleprogramforschoolagedchildrenwithoverweightorobesityarandomisedcontroltrial AT simonegibson theeffectivenessofa10weekfamilyfocusedehealthhealthylifestyleprogramforschoolagedchildrenwithoverweightorobesityarandomisedcontroltrial AT zoeedavidson theeffectivenessofa10weekfamilyfocusedehealthhealthylifestyleprogramforschoolagedchildrenwithoverweightorobesityarandomisedcontroltrial AT dianazhu effectivenessofa10weekfamilyfocusedehealthhealthylifestyleprogramforschoolagedchildrenwithoverweightorobesityarandomisedcontroltrial AT aimeeldordevic effectivenessofa10weekfamilyfocusedehealthhealthylifestyleprogramforschoolagedchildrenwithoverweightorobesityarandomisedcontroltrial AT simonegibson effectivenessofa10weekfamilyfocusedehealthhealthylifestyleprogramforschoolagedchildrenwithoverweightorobesityarandomisedcontroltrial AT zoeedavidson effectivenessofa10weekfamilyfocusedehealthhealthylifestyleprogramforschoolagedchildrenwithoverweightorobesityarandomisedcontroltrial |