Primary prevention of childhood obesity: Results from a population-based cluster-randomized trial (PRIMROSE): Nora Döring

Objective

To evaluate the health outcomes of a manualized intervention program based on social cognitive therapy and motivational interviewing. The program was embedded in Swedish child health services and started when eligible children were 9–10 months of age and ended at four years of age.

Methods

Child health centers (CHCs) were randomized into intervention or control groups. First-time parents receiving preventive services at a participating CHC were eligible to the trial. The PRIMROSE cluster-randomized trial included 1369 families. Families belonging to intervention CHCs took part in nine sessions with a trained nurse; those belonging to control CHCs were offered usual child health services. All intervention sessions focused on promotion of healthy dietary and physical activity behaviors among the children. The primary health outcomes were body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference at four years of age.

Preliminary Results

Retention at follow-up was 74.8%. At end of follow up, there were no significant differences between the intervention and the control groups in children's and their mothers BMI or waist circumference. With regard to children's dietary habits, significantly more healthy habits were observed in the intervention group than in the control group.

Conclusion

Evaluation of PRIMROSE data showed that while there were no significant group differences in children's and mother's anthropometric data, there was suggestive evidence concerning children's eating habits at 4 years of age.