A Feasibility Study of Group Parent Training for the Prevention of Obesity (GPT-O) in African Americans

Abstract

The prevalence of overweight (BMI greater than 85th percentile for age and sex) has more than tripled in the past three decades (216). Prevalence is elevated among racial and ethnic minorities compared to the Caucasian population (215). Obesity prevention, especially among young children, has become paramount (228; 286). The purpose of this study was to test the feasibility and acceptability of an 8-week group parent training for obesity prevention program (GPT-O) targeting parental self-efficacy in making lifestyle changes. Given limited intervention research among racial minorities, African Americans were specifically targeted. Participants were twenty African American parents and their overweight/obese (BMI z-score M= 2.46, SD= .93) children (M = 4. 10y, SD= 1.48, 70% female). Parent participants completed feasibility questionnaires following the intervention. Measures of child participants' body composition were collected at baseline, post-intervention, and three-month follow-up, and compared to a standard-of-care control group. Parents also completed questionnaires regarding parenting and child behaviors at baseline and post-intervention. Retention through post-intervention was 75 percent. Of these participants, average attendance was M= 5.12, SD= 2.12, of 8 sessions. Following the intervention, most parents reported that the group was acceptable (100 percent) and feasible (78 percent). Expected BMI change did not differ between intervention and standard-of-care control youth from baseline to post-intervention (p=1.0) or from post-intervention to three-month follow-up (p=1.0). Following the intervention, parents reported improved parenting (p less than 0.3) and feeding (p = .03) practices, as well as improved child eating related (p = .001), weight-related (p = .01), and general (p = .06) behavioral problems. Following the intervention, parents reported reductions in children's daily caloric intake (p=.04), saturated fat intake (p=.04) and added sugars intake.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 07, 2013
Accession Number
AD1012824

Entities

People

  • Camden Elliott

Organizations

  • Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • African Americans
  • Body Weight
  • Child Rearing
  • Eating Disorders
  • Ethnic Groups
  • Genetics
  • Health Services
  • Human Behavior
  • Medical Personnel
  • Minority Groups
  • Psychiatry
  • Psychology
  • Recreation
  • Social Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Video Games

Fields of Study

  • Psychology

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