title: Tools for teen moms to reduce infant obesity: a randomized clinical trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Unhealthy infant feeding practices, such as a combination of formula feeding and early introduction of solids may lead to rapid or excessive weight gain in early infancy. Adolescent mothers' feeding behaviors are most directly related to infant weight gain in the first year of life. Compared to adult mothers, adolescent mothers are less knowledgeable, less responsive, more controlling, and less skilled in infant feeding, which interferes with infants' healthy growth. The Tools for Teen Moms trial aims to compare the effect of a social media intervention for low-income adolescent, first-time mothers of infants 2 months of age or younger, versus standard care on infant weight, maternal responsiveness, and feeding style and practices. The intervention is conducted during the infant's first four months of life to promote healthy transition to solids during their first year. Tools for Teen Moms is an intervention delivered via a social media platform that actively engages and coaches low-income adolescent mothers in infant-centered feeding to reduce rapid/excessive infant weight gain in the first six months of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe our study protocol for a randomized control trial with an anticipated sample of 100 low-income African- American and Caucasian adolescent, first-time mothers of infants. Participants are recruited through Maternal-Infant Health Programs in four counties in Michigan, USA. Participants are randomly assigned to the intervention or the control group. The intervention provides infant feeding information to mothers via a web-based application, and includes daily behavioral challenges, text message reminders, discussion forums, and website information as a comprehensive social media strategy over 6 weeks. Participants continue to receive usual care during the intervention. Main maternal outcomes include: (a) maternal responsiveness, (b) feeding style, and (c) feeding practices. The primary infant outcome is infant weight. Data collection occurs at baseline, and when the baby is 3 and 6 months old.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Expected outcomes will address the effectiveness of the social media intervention in helping teen mothers develop healthy infant feeding practices that contribute to reducing the risk of early onset childhood obesity.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Clinical Trials.Gov NCT02244424, June 24, 2014.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Michigan State University, 1355 Bogue Street, Bott Nursing Building, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA. millie@msu.edu.
authors.forename: Mildred A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Horodynski
authors.affiliation: Department of Communication, Michigan State University, 404 Wilson Road, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA. silkk@msu.edu.
authors.forename: Kami
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Silk
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Centered Design and Engineering, University of Washington, 414 Sieg Hall, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA. garyhs@uw.edu.
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Michigan State University, 1355 Bogue Street, Bott Nursing Building, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA. alicemmhoffman92@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hoffman
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Michigan State University, 1355 Bogue Street, Bott Nursing Building, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA. robsonm1@msu.edu.
authors.forename: Mackenzie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Robson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American; D005190:Family; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D000068104:Infant Health; D008824:Michigan; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D016487:Parenting; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011203:Poverty; D061108:Social Media; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015430:Weight Gain; D055815:Young Adult