The Melbourne Infant Feeding, Activity and Nutrition Trial (InFANT) Program follow-up

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Abstract

Background

The Melbourne Infant Feeding, Activity and Nutrition Trial (InFANT) Program, is a community-based, cluster-randomised controlled trial of an obesity prevention intervention delivered to first-time parents of infants from age 4–20 months. Conducted from 2008 to 2010, the program had high uptake and retention and showed positive impacts on some dietary outcomes and television viewing. Funding was secured for a follow-up study of participants two and 3.5 years post intervention (at child ages ~ 3.5 and 5 years). The follow-up study aims to assess intervention effects, mediators and moderators of effects, and program cost-effectiveness over the longer term.

Methods/design

The 492 families still enrolled in the Melbourne InFANT Program at intervention conclusion will be recontacted and renewed consent sought to participate in this follow-up study. No further intervention will occur. Home visit data collections will occur approximately two and 3.5 years post intervention. Main outcomes to be assessed include child body mass index, waist circumference, diet (3 × 24-hour recalls; food frequency questionnaire), physical activity (8 days ActiGraph accelerometer data; parent reported active play) and sedentary time (8 days ActiGraph accelerometer and ActivPAL inclinometer data; parent reported screen time).

Discussion

Follow-up of participants of the Melbourne InFANT Program at two and 3.5 years post intervention will allow assessment of longer term intervention effects, investigation of potential mediators and moderators of such effects, and economic evaluation of the longer term outcomes. This information will be valuable to researchers and policy makers in progressing the field of early childhood obesity prevention.

Section snippets

Background

The prevention of childhood overweight and obesity is an international health priority [1]. Similar to other developed nations, the prevalence of overweight and obesity in young children in Australia is high, with 17% of 2–3 year olds overweight and 4% obese [2]. The high prevalence of overweight and obesity in young children is concerning as weight gain in the first two years of life is associated with a 2–3 fold increase in risk of later overweight [3], [4] and most excess weight gained before

Methods/design

The Melbourne INFANT Program follow-up will involve data collection two and 3.5 years post intervention. No further intervention will be carried out in this phase of the program. The study has been approved by the Deakin University Human Research Ethics Committee (2007–175).

Discussion

A valid criticism of intervention research in the field of obesity prevention is the consistent failure to assess longer term effects of interventions [24], [26]. This is particularly important when considering obesity prevention interventions in children as parental knowledge, skills and practices have the capacity to influence obesity-promoting behaviours over the longer term [53]. Research suggests that without intervention, parents' self-efficacy regarding their capacity to influence their

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Author's contributions

KH took the lead in writing and designing the follow-up study subsequently funded by a National Health and Medical Research Council Grant. She also led the modification of this grant for publication.

KC contributed to the overall concept and design of the follow-up study and assisted with the writing of the grant and this manuscript.

DC, JS, SM, ZM, AC, KB, LG, NA provided expert input and support overall for the writing of the grant and this manuscript.

All authors read and approved the final

Acknowledgements

This project was funded by a National Health and Medical Research Council project grant (no. 1008879). KDH is supported by a National Heart Foundation of Australia Career Development Award. KC is supported by Victorian Health Promotion Foundation Fellowship. JS is supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council Principal Research Fellowship (APP1026216). SAM is supported by an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship. AC is supported by a National Health and Medical Research

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