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Title: Family TXT: Feasibility and acceptability of a mHealth obesity prevention program for parents of pre-adolescent African American girls

Author
item CALLENDER, CHISHINGA - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item Thompson, Deborah - Debbe

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/28/2019
Publication Date: 6/10/2019
Citation: Callender, C., Thompson, D.J. 2019. Family TXT: Feasibility and acceptability of a mHealth obesity prevention program for parents of pre-adolescent African American girls [abstract]. The 16th HDEART Consortium: Disparities in America; Working Toward Social Justice. June 10-12, 2019; Houston, TX. Oral Presentation.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Obesity prevalence is greater in African American girls than their non-Hispanic white peers. Obesity in childhood often tracks into adulthood and is associated with negative health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Thus, finding effective ways to prevent obesity during childhood is an important public health issue. Obesity prevention programs are needed to help parents create a home environment that promotes and supports obesity prevention. Interventions that incorporate technology, such as mobile health (mHealth), have the potential to encourage obesity preventive behaviors using familiar, convenient, and available technology. The Internet and cell phones are used widely in the African American community. Research has found that the majority of African Americans use the Internet (80%) and own a cell phone (92%). Text messaging is also a common form of communication for African Americans (79%). African American parents and women have shown an interest in receiving text messages and supported the use of text message-based programs to provide health information. However, we are not aware of any studies that have used text messages as a primary way for helping parents of pre-adolescent African American girls create a home environment that promotes and supports child obesity prevention. The purpose of the research was to determine the feasibility and acceptability of a mHealth child obesity prevention program for parents of 8-10-year old African American girls. Feasibility and acceptability were assessed using a one-group design with baseline and immediate post-intervention assessments. Mothers (n=19) received 36 text messages over 12-weeks focusing on behaviors associated with child obesity, including diet, physical activity, sedentary behavior, stress, and sleep. Mothers reported positive reactions to the intervention; they liked the program, used the information, and rated it highly. Most made changes as a result of the program and shared the text messages with others. This research provides evidence that a theoretically-grounded mHealth child obesity prevention intervention is a feasible and acceptable method for delivering a child obesity prevention program to parents of African American girls.