Interventions commenced by early infancy to prevent childhood obesity-The EPOCH Collaboration: an individual participant data prospective meta-analysis of four randomized controlled trials

Lisa M. Askie, David Espinoza, Andrew Martin, Lynne A. Daniels, Seema Mihrshahi, Rachael Taylor, Li Ming Wen, Karen Campbell, Kylie D. Hesketh, Chris Rissel, Barry Taylor, Anthea Magarey, Anna Lene Seidler, Kylie E. Hunter, Louise A. Baur

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

46 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Childhood obesity is a significant global problem. Childhood obesity prevention interventions may be more effective when started very early in life before metabolic and behavioural patterns are established.

Methods and findings: A prospectively planned, individual participant data meta-analysis of four randomized controlled trials. Participants were first-time mothers of term infants. Trial interventions commenced during pregnancy or early infancy and comprised education and support delivered via group sessions and/or home visits. Control group families accessed existing local well-child health care. The primary outcome was body mass index (BMI) z score at 18 to 24 months; 2196 mother-child dyads were available for analysis. Intervention children had lower BMI z scores at 18 to 24 months than control children (-0.12 adjusted mean; 95% confidence interval, -0.22 to -0.02, P = .017). There was some evidence that the BMI z score reduction was greater in settings with limited well-child health care programmes (interaction P value = .03). Improvements were also detected in television viewing time, feeding practices, and breastfeeding duration.

Conclusions: Parent-focused intervention programmes that commence by early infancy and which aim to establish a trajectory of healthy lifestyle behaviours produced a modest but statistically significant reduction in BMI z score, which if replicated on a wider scale may have important public health implications.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere12618
Pages (from-to)1-10
Number of pages10
JournalPediatric Obesity
Volume15
Issue number6
Early online date6 Feb 2020
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2020
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • childhood obesity
  • intervention
  • prevention
  • prospective meta-analysis

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