title: The extended Infant Feeding, Activity and Nutrition Trial (InFANT Extend) Program: a cluster-randomized controlled trial of an early intervention to prevent childhood obesity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Understanding how we can prevent childhood obesity in scalable and sustainable ways is imperative. Early RCT interventions focused on the first two years of life have shown promise however, differences in Body Mass Index between intervention and control groups diminish once the interventions cease. Innovative and cost-effective strategies seeking to continue to support parents to engender appropriate energy balance behaviours in young children need to be explored.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Infant Feeding Activity and Nutrition Trial (InFANT) Extend Program builds on the early outcomes of the Melbourne InFANT Program. This cluster randomized controlled trial will test the efficacy of an extended (33 versus 15 month) and enhanced (use of web-based materials, and Facebook® engagement), version of the original Melbourne InFANT Program intervention in a new cohort. Outcomes at 36 months of age will be compared against the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This trial will provide important information regarding capacity and opportunities to maximize early childhood intervention effectiveness over the first three years of life. This study continues to build the evidence base regarding the design of cost-effective, scalable interventions to promote protective energy balance behaviors in early childhood, and in turn, promote improved child weight and health across the life course.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ACTRN12611000386932. Registered 13 April 2011.
authors.affiliation: Deakin University, Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Health, Victoria, Australia. karen.campbell@deakin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Karen J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.affiliation: Deakin University, Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Health, Victoria, Australia. kylie.hesketh@deakin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Kylie D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Hesketh
authors.affiliation: Deakin University, Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Health, Victoria, Australia. sarah.mcnaughton@deakin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Sarah A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: McNaughton
authors.affiliation: Deakin University, Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Health, Victoria, Australia. kylie.ball@deakin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Kylie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. zoe.mccallum@rch.org.au.
authors.forename: Zoë
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: McCallum
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. john.lynch@adelaide.edu.au.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lynch
authors.affiliation: Deakin University, Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Health, Victoria, Australia. david.crawford@deakin.edu.au.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Crawford
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet; D061345:Early Medical Intervention / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education*; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012107:Research Design; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D061108:Social Media