The HIKCUPS trial: a multi-site randomized controlled trial of a combined physical activity skill-development and dietary modification program in overweight and obese children.
BACKGROUND
Childhood obesity is one of the most pressing health issues of our time. Key health organizations have recommended research be conducted on the effectiveness of well-designed interventions to combat childhood obesity that can be translated into a variety of settings. This paper describes the design and methods used in the Hunter Illawarra Kids Challenge Using Parent Support (HIKCUPS) trial, an ongoing multi-site randomized controlled trial, in overweight/obese children comparing the efficacy of three interventions: 1) a parent-centered dietary modification program; 2) a child-centered physical activity skill-development program; and 3) a program combining both 1 and 2 above.


METHODS
Each intervention consists of three components: i) 10-weekly face-to-face group sessions; ii) a weekly homework component, completed between each face-to-face session and iii) three telephone calls at monthly intervals following completion of the 10-week program. Details of the programs' methodological aspects of recruitment, randomization and statistical analyses are described here a priori.


CONCLUSIONS
Importantly this paper describes how HIKCUPS addresses some of the short falls in the current literature pertaining to the efficacy of child obesity interventions. The HIKCUPS trial is funded by the National Medical Research Council, Australia.
Jones
Rachel A
RA
Child Obesity Research Centre, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia. rachelj@uow.edu.au
Okely
Anthony D
AD
Collins
Clare E
CE
Morgan
Philip J
PJ
Steele
Julie R
JR
Warren
Janet M
JM
Baur
Louise A
LA
Cliff
Dylan P
DP
Burrows
Tracy
T
Cleary
Jane
J
D001294:Attitude to Health; D001315:Australia; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D053198:Child Nutrition Sciences; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D018579:Patient Selection; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D012109:Research Support as Topic; D012944:Social Support