title: Feasibility and acceptability of an early childhood obesity prevention intervention: results from the healthy homes, healthy families pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study examined the feasibility and acceptability of a home-based early childhood obesity prevention intervention designed to empower low-income racially/ethnically diverse parents to modify their children's health behaviors.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a prospective design with pre-/posttest evaluation of 50 parent-child pairs (children aged 2 to 5 years) to examine potential changes in dietary, physical activity, and sedentary behaviors among children at baseline and four-month follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  39 (78%) parent-child pairs completed evaluation data at 4-month follow-up. Vegetable intake among children significantly increased at follow-up (0.54 cups at 4 months compared to 0.28 cups at baseline, P = 0.001) and ounces of fruit juice decreased at follow-up (11.9 ounces at 4 months compared to 16.0 ounces at baseline, P = 0.036). Sedentary behaviors also improved. Children significantly decreased time spent watching TV on weekdays (P < 0.01) and also reduced weekend TV time. In addition, the number of homes with TV sets in the child's bedroom also decreased (P < 0.0013).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings indicate that a home-based early childhood obesity prevention intervention is feasible, acceptable and demonstrates short-term effects on dietary and sedentary behaviors of low-income racially/ethnically diverse children.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Community Health Promotion, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University, P.O. Box G-S121-8, Providence, RI 02908, USA.
authors.forename: Akilah Dulin
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0769-1014
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Keita
authors.affiliation: Institute for Community Health Promotion, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University, P.O. Box G-S121-8, Providence, RI 02908, USA.
authors.forename: Patricia M
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2868-1931
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Risica
authors.affiliation: Kinesiology & Health Science, Stephen F. Austin State University, P.O. Box 13015 SFA Station, Nacogdoches, TX 75962, USA.
authors.forename: Kelli L
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5015-2561
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Drenner
authors.affiliation: School of Human Environmental Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA.
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8523-9210
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.affiliation: Institute for Community Health Promotion, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University, P.O. Box G-S121-8, Providence, RI 02908, USA.
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gorham
authors.affiliation: Center for Health, Intervention, and Prevention, Department of Human Development and Family Studies, University of Connecticut, 348 Mansfield Road, Unit 1058, Room 320, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.
authors.forename: Kim M
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3623-7790
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Gans
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002652:Child Behavior; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet; D004326:Drinking; D015444:Exercise; D005192:Family Health; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005638:Fruit; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008892:Milk; D062405:Motivational Interviewing; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013690:Television; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014675:Vegetables