title: Involvement of Fathers in Pediatric Obesity Treatment and Prevention Trials: A Systematic Review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite their important influence on child health, it is assumed that fathers are less likely than mothers to participate in pediatric obesity treatment and prevention research.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This review investigated the involvement of fathers in obesity treatment and prevention programs targeting children and adolescents (0-18 years).
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic review of English, peer-reviewed articles across 7 databases. Retrieved records included at least 1 search term from 2 groups: "participants" (eg, child*, parent*) and "outcomes": (eg, obes*, diet*).
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing behavioral interventions to prevent or treat obesity in pediatric samples were eligible. Parents must have "actively participated" in the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two authors independently extracted data using a predefined template.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The search retrieved 213 eligible RCTs. Of the RCTs that limited participation to 1 parent only (n = 80), fathers represented only 6% of parents. In RCTs in which participation was open to both parents (n = 133), 92% did not report objective data on father involvement. No study characteristics moderated the level of father involvement, with fathers underrepresented across all study types. Only 4 studies (2%) suggested that a lack of fathers was a possible limitation. Two studies (1%) reported explicit attempts to increase father involvement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The review was limited to RCTs published in English peer-reviewed journals over a 10-year period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Existing pediatric obesity treatment or prevention programs with parent involvement have not engaged fathers. Innovative strategies are needed to make participation more accessible and engaging for fathers.
authors.affiliation: Priority Research Centre in Physical Activity and Nutrition, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia; philip.morgan@newcastle.edu.au.
authors.forename: Philip J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.affiliation: Priority Research Centre in Physical Activity and Nutrition, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.
authors.forename: Myles D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Young
authors.affiliation: Priority Research Centre in Physical Activity and Nutrition, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.
authors.forename: Adam B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Lloyd
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health Sciences, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts.|Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Monica L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Priority Research Centre in Physical Activity and Nutrition, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.
authors.forename: Narelle
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Eather
authors.affiliation: Priority Research Centre in Physical Activity and Nutrition, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: Department of Arts Education and Physical Education, Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland; and.
authors.forename: Elaine M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Murtagh
authors.affiliation: Priority Research Centre in Physical Activity and Nutrition, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.
authors.forename: Alyce T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts, Worcester, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Sherry L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Pagoto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005219:Father-Child Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D020954:Single-Parent Family