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Mâsse LC, Vlaar J, Macdonald J, Bradbury J, Warshawski T, Buckler EJ, Hamilton J, Ho J, Buchholz A, Morrison KM, Ball GDC. Aim2Be mHealth intervention for children with overweight and obesity: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials 2020; 21:132. [PMID: 32014057 PMCID: PMC6998843 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-020-4080-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2019] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The prevalence of overweight and obesity remains high in Canada, and the current standard for the treatment of childhood obesity is in-person, family-based, multidisciplinary interventions that target lifestyle behaviors (e.g., diet, physical activity, and sedentary behaviors). These programs are costly to operate, have limited success, and report recruitment and retention challenges. With recent advances in technology, mobile health or mHealth has been presented as a viable alternative to in-person interventions for behavior change, especially with teens. Purpose The primary aim of this study is to test the efficacy of Aim2Be, a gamified app based on behavior change theory with health coaching to improve weight outcomes (i.e., decrease in standardized body mass index (zBMI)) and lifestyle behaviors (i.e., improve dietary quality, increase fruit and vegetable intake, reduce sugar-sweetened beverage intake, increase physical activity, and reduce screen time) among children 10- to 17-years old with overweight or obesity versus their peers randomized into a waitlist control condition. The secondary aims of this study are to 1) test whether supplementing the Aim2Be program with health coaching increases adherence and 2) examine the mediators and moderators of adherence to the Aim2Be intervention. Methods We will employ a randomized controlled trial design and recruit 200 child and parent dyads to participate in the study (2019–2020). Participants will be recruited from Canadian pediatric weight management clinics and through online advertisements. Child participants must be between the ages of 10 and 17 years, have overweight or obesity, be able to read English at least at a grade 5 level, and have a mobile phone or home computer with internet access. Following baseline data collection, participants will be randomized into intervention and waitlist control groups. Intervention participants will receive access to Aim2Be, with access to health coaching. After having their data collected for 3 months, the control group will gain access to Aim2Be, with no access to health coaching. Participants will control their frequency and duration of app usage to promote autonomy. Discussion Findings from this study will determine the efficacy of using Aim2Be in improving child weight outcomes and lifestyle behaviors and guide future mHealth interventions for pediatric weight management. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03651284. Registered 29 August 2018.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise C Mâsse
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, F508 - 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, V6H 3V4, Canada.
| | - Janae Vlaar
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, F508 - 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, V6H 3V4, Canada
| | - Janice Macdonald
- Childhood Obesity Foundation, Robert HN Ho Research Centre, 771A - 2635 Laurel Street, VGH Hospital Campus, Vancouver, BC, V5 1M9, Canada
| | - Jennifer Bradbury
- Childhood Obesity Foundation, Robert HN Ho Research Centre, 771A - 2635 Laurel Street, VGH Hospital Campus, Vancouver, BC, V5 1M9, Canada
| | - Tom Warshawski
- Childhood Obesity Foundation, Robert HN Ho Research Centre, 771A - 2635 Laurel Street, VGH Hospital Campus, Vancouver, BC, V5 1M9, Canada
| | - E Jean Buckler
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, F508 - 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, V6H 3V4, Canada
| | - Jill Hamilton
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, ON,, M5G 1X8, Canada
| | - Josephine Ho
- Cumming School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Annick Buchholz
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, 401 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L1, Canada
| | - Katherine M Morrison
- Department of Pediatrics, Centre for Metabolism, Obesity and Diabetes Research, 1280 Main Street W., HSC-3A, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1,, Canada
| | - Geoff D C Ball
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, Canada
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Lambert A, Vlaar J, Herrington S, Brussoni M. What Is the Relationship between the Neighbourhood Built Environment and Time Spent in Outdoor Play? A Systematic Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2019; 16:ijerph16203840. [PMID: 31614536 PMCID: PMC6843675 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16203840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Revised: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Outdoor play has been associated with children’s and adolescents’ healthy development and physical activity. Attributes of the neighbourhood built environment can influence play behaviours. This systematic review examined the relationship between attributes of the neighbourhood built environment and the time children and adolescents (0–18 years) spend in self-directed outdoor play. We identified and evaluated 18 relevant papers using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool and developed a narrative synthesis of study results. We found moderate evidence that lower traffic volumes (ages 6–11), yard access (ages 3–10), and increased neighbourhood greenness (ages 2–15) were positively associated with time spent in outdoor play, as well as limited evidence that specific traffic-calming street features such as fewer intersections, low traffic speeds, neighbourhood disorder, and low residential density were positively associated with time spent in outdoor play. To our knowledge, this is the first systematic review on this topic. The limited number of “good quality” studies identified highlights the need for additional research on the topic.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Janae Vlaar
- Human Early Learning Partnership, University of British Columbia, Suite 440, 2206 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada.
| | - Susan Herrington
- School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, University of British Columbia, 379-2357 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada.
| | - Mariana Brussoni
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, British Columbia Injury Research & Prevention Unit, F511-4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3V4, Canada.
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Vlaar J, Brussoni M, Janssen I, Mâsse LC. Roaming the Neighbourhood: Influences of Independent Mobility Parenting Practices and Parental Perceived Environment on Children's Territorial Range. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2019; 16:ijerph16173129. [PMID: 31466293 PMCID: PMC6747532 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16173129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Revised: 08/26/2019] [Accepted: 08/27/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Children’s independent mobility (IM), their freedom to move about their neighbourhood without supervision by adults, has been in steady decline in recent decades. Previous research has linked perceptions of the environment with various measures of IM, but recently concerns have been raised regarding inconsistency in measuring IM. This study used various measures of IM and aimed to address how parental perceptions of the neighbourhood environment are associated with children’s territorial range (actual IM), as well as how this relationship is mediated by IM parenting practices (allowed IM). A sample of 105 child/parent dyads from Vancouver, Canada participated in this study. Children (age 10–13) wore a global positioning system (GPS) watch and an accelerometer and completed an activity diary for seven days to assess their territorial range. Parents completed a questionnaire that assessed perceptions of their neighbourhood environment and IM parenting practices—license for IM and roaming allowance. Path analyses were used to address the research aims. License for IM and roaming allowance mediated the relationship between perceived walking facilities, crime safety, and neighbourhood relations and children’s territorial range. Findings suggest that future interventions to increase children’s territorial range should focus primarily on attitude and behaviour change among parents to grant children more freedom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janae Vlaar
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2329 West Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Mariana Brussoni
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2329 West Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada.
- British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, 4480 Oak St., Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada.
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, 2329 West Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada.
| | - Ian Janssen
- School of Kinesiology and Health Studies, Queen's University, 99 University Ave., Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Louise C Mâsse
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2329 West Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada.
- British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, 4480 Oak St., Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada.
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