Improving Recognition of Childhood Overweight

ISRCTN	ISRCTN91136472
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN91136472
Secondary identifying numbers	14008

Submission date: 03/05/2013
Registration date: 03/05/2013
Last edited: 11/12/2018

Recruitment status: No longer recruiting
Overall study status: Completed
Condition category: Nutritional, Metabolic, Endocrine

Prospectively registered

Protocol

Statistical analysis plan

Results

Individual participant data

Record updated in last year

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
One important step in decreasing the prevalence of children becoming overweight is to help families accurately recognise their childs weight status so they appreciate the need to take appropriate action or seek support. The clinical criteria for overweight are typically based on the body mass index (BMI) but evidence suggests that parents use visual methods rather than those based on BMI. This research team has developed a visual intervention tool which has age and gender-specific body image scales (ranges of images of body shapes of known BMI from underweight to obese) and supporting information about the health risks of childhood overweight (Map Me). A study will be conducted to find out if the Map Me intervention helps parents accurately identify their childs weight status, whether it influences knowledge and action taken. The study is entitled the 4 & UPP Study.

Who can participate?
Parents of school children aged 4-5 years (Reception) and 10-11 years (Year 6). The parents child will also be a participant. In cases where families have more than one eligible child, one will be selected at random by the study team.

What does the study involve?
Schools will be randomly allocated to: provision of Map Me in paper-based format; provision of Map Me in web-based format; or provision of no information (control). Comparison will be made between both intervention groups and the control group to determine effectiveness of the intervention.
Parents will complete a questionnaire with measures of their perception of their childs weight status and other aspects primarily about knowledge of the health consequences of childhood overweight and cognitive characteristics (child's development in terms of information processing, language learning, and other aspects of brain development) around facilitating weight control in their children. Parents in the intervention groups will have access to Map Me for one month prior to completing the questionnaire. The study team will work with National Child Measurement Programmes (NCMP), which measures the height and weight of Reception and Year 6 children and with parental consent will obtain the measures. The aim will be to obtain the questionnaire data for the study before parents receive the feedback letter from the NCMP informing them of the weight status of their child. Parents and children will be followed-up at 12 months; parents will be asked to complete a questionnaire similar to the first, and both parent and child will be measured by the study team for height and weight.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There is potential direct benefit to parents in the intervention groups in relation to perception of their childs weight status and health risks. Indirectly children may benefit due to increased parental awareness of childhood obesity. Those not in the intervention groups may be disadvantaged but will be given access to the intervention if it is shown to be effective and becomes publicly available (prior agreement confirmed with NHS Choices). There are no risks highlighted in taking part in the study.

Where is the study run from?
The study is run from the Institute of Health & Society at Newcastle University, England, UK.

When is study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
February 2013 to April 2015.

Who is funding the study?
The trial is funded by the National Prevention Research Initiative, website (http://www.npri.org.uk). The Funding Partners are: Alzheimer's Research Trust; Alzheimer's Society; Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council; British Heart Foundation; Cancer Research UK; Chief Scientist Office, Scottish Government Health Directorate; Department of Health; Diabetes UK; Economic and Social Research Council; Health and Social Care Research and Development Division of the Public Health Agency (HSC R&D Division); Medical Research Council; The Stroke Association; Wellcome Trust; Welsh Assembly Government; and World Cancer Research Fund.

Who is the main contact?
Professor Ashley Adamson
ashley.adamson@ncl.ac.uk

Contact information

Prof Ashley Adamson
Scientific

Institute of Health and Society
4th Floor William Leech Building
Framlington Place
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE2 4HH
United Kingdom

Email	ashley.adamson@ncl.ac.uk

Study information

Study design	Cluster randomised interventional trial
Primary study design	Interventional
Secondary study design	Cluster randomised trial
Study setting(s)	School
Study type	Treatment
Participant information sheet	Not available in web format. The parents letter and information sheet can be requested from: Dr Kathryn Parkinson by emailing kathryn.parkinson@ncl.ac.uk or by telephone on +44 191 222 3828.
Scientific title	Cluster randomised trial on Improving Recognition of Childhood Overweight
Study acronym	4 & UPP Study
Study objectives	4 & UPP Study - Understanding Parents Perceptions - children aged 4 and above Preventing excess body weight in childhood is a public health priority. Parents are essential in achieving this but they often do not recognise when their child is overweight and consequently do not take action. Improving parental recognition of childhood overweight is essential to behaviour change. We have developed gender-specific body image scales of known body mass index for 4-5 and 10-11 year olds and supporting information about the health consequences of childhood overweight. This full cluster randomised trial (CRT) will test the developed tools designed to help parents identify their childs body weight status. The outcome measures are accuracy of parent perception of child weight status and change in child weight status over one year. A minimum of 36 schools will provide a sample of parents (one parent per child) of 4-5 and 10-11 year children (target n=2160). The schools will be randomised to either: Intervention A-provided with paper-based tools and supporting information with techniques about identifying overweight in children and why it is important; Intervention B-the same but web-based; Control group. Parents in all arms will be asked to complete a questionnaire which includes assessment of their childs weight status, perceived behavioural control, action planning and related topics. Parent body measurements will be obtained. We will work with the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) in North of Tyne PCT which collects height and weight of Reception and Year 6 children. We will obtain these data to avoid duplicate measures of children, and crucially will provide the means to assess parents' accuracy of child weight status before parents receive the NCMP feedback letter informing them of their child's results (i.e. weight status). At 12 month follow-up parents will complete a postal questionnaire, and children's height and weight measured at school or home visit by the study team.
Ethics approval(s)	NRES Committee North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 2, First MREC approval date 21/11/2012, 12/NE0409
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied	Topic: Generic Health Relevance and Cross Cutting Themes; Disease: Paediatrics / Childhood Overweight
Intervention	Parents of children in two age groups (4-5 years; 10-11 years). Their children will also be participants. The sample will be drawn from schools. A minimum of 36 schools with 120 children per school (2 classes of 30 in each of two year groups) will provide a sampling frame of 4320 children. Anticipating 50% agreeing to participate, provides a sample of 2160. If some enrolled schools are smaller or take-up rate is lower than 50%, more schools will be enrolled. Non-invasive information based, Delivery of body image scales and supporting information to parents to improve recognition of childhood obesity Three study arms: delivery via web tool, paper-based and control. The duration of the intervention is 30 days.
Intervention type	Behavioural
Primary outcome measure	Change in parental perceptions of child body weight measured 1 month and 12 months post-intervention delivery
Secondary outcome measures	Child weight status at 12 months follow-up
Overall study start date	25/02/2013
Completion date	31/12/2013

Eligibility

Participant type(s)	Other
Age group	Child
Lower age limit	4 Years
Sex	Both
Target number of participants	UK Sample Size: 2160
Key inclusion criteria	1. The parent must have a child in Reception or Year 6 of a school enrolled to the study 2. Male & Female, lower age limit 4 years
Key exclusion criteria	Does not meet inclusion criteria
Date of first enrolment	25/02/2013
Date of final enrolment	31/12/2013

Locations

Countries of recruitment

England
United Kingdom

Study participating centre

Institute of Health and Society

Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE2 4HH
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

Newcastle University (UK)
University/education

Institute of Health and Society
21-23 Claremont Place
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE2 4AA
England
United Kingdom

Website	http://www.ncl.ac.uk/
"ROR"	https://ror.org/01kj2bm70

Funders

Funder type

Research council

Medical Research Council (MRC) (UK) Grant Codes: MR/J00054X/1
Government organisation / National government

Alternative name(s): Medical Research Council (United Kingdom), UK Medical Research Council, MRC
Location: United Kingdom

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share	No
IPD sharing plan summary	Not provided at time of registration
Publication and dissemination plan	Not provided at time of registration
IPD sharing plan

Study outputs

Output type	Details	Date created	Date added	Peer reviewed?	Patient-facing?
Protocol article	protocol	12/06/2015		Yes	No

Editorial Notes

11/12/2018: No publications found, verifying study status with principal investigator.