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Objective While obesity prevention efforts emphasize the importance of healthy family meals, few studies have addressed instrumental barriers to family meals as an obesity prevention strategy. Therefore, our study objectives are to: Phase 1 - test the additive effects of six intervention components reflecting differing levels of supports for family mealtimes; identify components associated with family meals and dietary outcomes in a Screening Phase and Phase 2 - evaluate the identified components as an intervention in a randomized controlled trial in a Confirming Phase. Description Phase 1 (n = 499 children from Head Start/parents) analyses indicated that the provision of healthy meals and cookware/dinnerware sets was most robustly associated with mealtime frequency and dietary quality. In Phase 2, participants in the treatment condition receive two prepared meals delivered weekly by Meals on Wheels for 12 weeks and a comprehensive set of cookware/dinnerware. We have enrolled 58 pilot parent-child dyads (Mage parents = 31.12 years, SD = 7.97; Mage children = 4.21 years, SD = 0.52) who reflect a racially diverse, low-income sample. 75% of parents/27% of children are overweight/obese and 57% of families were food insecure at enrollment. Recruitment for an additional 250 children/parents is underway. Evaluation Given the small pilot, we utilized descriptive analyses of pre-post changes in mean scores, with Cohen's d compared to the control condition noted. The pilot intervention showed pre-post increases in the frequency of eating meals together (d = 0.13), increases in efficacy in mealtime planning (d = 0.27) and decreases in time barriers regarding meal preparation (d = -0.36). Children's body mass index z-score decreased in the treatment and control groups. Conclusion and Implications Preliminary pilot results suggest the provision of healthy, prepared meals may be related to greater frequency of family meals eaten together and improvements in perceived barriers to planning and preparing meals. At the conclusion of Phase 2, study results are expected to inform policy (e.g. where limited resources may be best allocated) and interventions (e.g. supports most effective in promoting family meals).

Objective: Evaluate effectiveness of the Healthy Babies (HB) intervention compared to a control group on maternal responsiveness, feeding style, and feeding practices, and compare infant feeding self-regulation and growth pattern of infants. Description: The HB Curriculum is a series of 6 in-home lessons and 3 follow-up telephone contacts, based on the Theory of Planned Behavior. Evaluation: Preliminary results (N 1⁄4 170) showed significant positive results related to pressuring to eat cereal, responding to infant fullness cues, and feeding knowledge. Conclusions and Implications: Preventive feeding interventions are necessary during age-appropriate transition to solid foods. Funding: USDA Grant # 2009-55215-05220. Other Funding/Support: Michigan State University (MSU), College of Nursing, MSU Families and Communities Together, MSUE EFNEP, and CSUE EFNEP.

Description: Five year, tri-state, quasi-experimental project. One control and one intervention community from each state are responsible for creating and implementing one nutrition and one physical activity program addressing overweight and obesity among 6th to 8th grade youth. Evaluation: Baseline environmental assessments were conducted in all communities. Focus groups were conducted in intervention communities. Data from baseline assessments and focus groups will be used to develop a questionnaire to capture youth health behaviors, determinants of behaviors, and youth engagement and empowerment. Conclusion and Implications: Identifying a potential framework for creating community-focused, sustainable and effective adolescent obesity prevention programs.

Objective: To evaluate a culturally sensitive healthful eating and activity program for Latinas based on a Health at Every Size (non-dieting) approach. Design, Setting and Participants: Single-group design. Participants were 72 females self-identifying as Latino/ Hispanic recruited at community sites. Seventy completed the program and provided post data; 62 provided follow-up data. Intervention: 8-weekly 1-hour classes in community settings, conducted in Spanish, including body image, healthful eating, physical activity, signs of hunger and fullness, self-confidence and social support. Outcome Measures and Analysis: Assessments, pre (week 0), post (week 9) and follow-up (week 18) included height and weight (BMI was calculated), daily cups of fruit and vegetables (FV) (NCI FV Screener), fat intake (NCI Fat Scan), minutes walking/week(IPAQ), cognitive restraint, emotional eating and uncontrolled eating subscales of the TFEQ. Data are presented for subjects completing followup. Repeated measures ANOVA was used with post-hoc comparisons between time points. Results: Mean age 3819 years; acculturation low (mean 1.4810.7; 5-point scale). BMI decreased (baseline mean 29.815.5; follow-up mean 29.215.2; p 0.001), fat intake decreased by 2% kcal (p 0.05), walking increased by 105 minutes/week (p 0.001), TFEQ uncontrolled eating decreased by 3.6% (p 0.001) and emotional eating decreased by 9.6% (p 0.001). TFEQ cognitive restraint increased at post but was not different from baseline at follow-up; FV intake was unchanged. Conclusions and Implications: This culturally sensitive program appeared to be effective in improving dietary and exercise behaviors as well as cognitive factors associated with eating which was reflected in a decrease in BMI among overweight Latinas. Supported by RI Ag. Experiment Station, grant #RH00131.