title: A randomised controlled trial and mediation analysis of the 'Healthy Habits', telephone-based dietary intervention for preschool children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Consumption of non-core foods in childhood is associated with excessive weight gain in childhood. Parents play a vital role in establishing healthy diet behaviours in young children. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a telephone-based intervention in reducing child consumption of non-core foods, and to examine parent and home food environment mediators of change in child consumption.
  
  
  METHODS
  The 'Healthy Habits' trial utilised a clustered randomised controlled design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Parents were recruited from 30 preschools (N=394 participants, mean age 35.2±5.6 years). Parents randomized to the intervention group received four telephone contacts and print materials. Parents allocated to the control condition receive generic print materials only. Non-core food consumption was assessed using a validated child dietary questionnaire at baseline, 2 and 6 months post recruitment in 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intervention was effective in reducing child consumption of non-core foods at 2 months (intention to treat analysis: z=-2.83, p<.01), however this effect was not maintained at 6 months. Structural equation modelling using 2 month data indicated that child access to non-core foods in the home and child feeding strategies mediated the effect of the intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The telephone-based intervention shows promise in improving short term dietary behaviour in preschool age children, however further development is needed to sustain the effect in the long-term.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Australian Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12609000820202.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fletcher
authors.forename: Luke
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wolfenden
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wyse
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bowman
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McElduff
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Duncan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D002652:Child Behavior; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet; D004777:Environment; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D057194:Intention to Treat Analysis; D016487:Parenting; D010290:Parents; D012931:Social Environment; D013689:Telephone; D016896:Treatment Outcome