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The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine the effectiveness of e-health interventions for the treatment of children and adolescents with overweight or obesity. Databases were searched up to November 2020. Studies were randomized controlled trials where interventions were delivered via e-health (e.g., computers, tablets, and smartphones, but not phone calls). Studies should target the treatment of overweight or obesity in children or their agent of changes and report body mass index (BMI) or BMI z-score. A meta-analysis using a random-effects model was conducted. Nineteen studies met the inclusion criteria, and 60% were of high quality. The narrative review revealed variation in behavior change strategies and modes of delivery. The pooled mean reduction in BMI or BMI z-score showed evidence for a nonzero effect (standardized mean difference = -0.31, 95% confidence interval -0.49 to -0.13), with moderately high heterogeneity between studies (I 2  = 74%, p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis revealed high heterogeneity in studies with a high or unclear risk of bias. E-health interventions can be effective in treating children and adolescents with overweight and obesity and should be considered by practitioners and policymakers. However, an understanding of the most effective and acceptable intervention components, long-term benefits, and sustainability should be further studied., (© 2021 World Obesity Federation.)

Introduction: Innovative eHealth solutions that improve access to child weight management interventions are crucial to address the rising prevalence of childhood obesity globally. The study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a 12-week online telehealth nutrition intervention to improve child weight and dietary outcomes, and the impact of additional text messages (SMS) targeted to mothers and fathers., Methods: Families with children aged 4 to 11 were randomised across three groups: Telehealth, Telehealth+SMS, or Waitlist control. Telehealth and Telehealth+SMS groups received two telehealth consultations delivered by a dietitian, 12 weeks access to a nutrition website and a private Facebook group. The Telehealth+SMS group received additional SMS. Feasibility was assessed through recruitment, retention, and intervention utilisation. Efficacy was assessed through changes in measured child body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and diet., Results: Forty-four (96%) and 36 (78%) families attended initial and second telehealth consultations, respectively. Thirty-six families (78%) completed week 12 assessments. Child BMI and waist circumference changes from baseline to week 12 were not statistically different within or between groups. Children in Telehealth+SMS had significantly reduced percentage energy from energy-dense nutrient-poor food (95% CI -21.99 to -0.03%E; p  = .038) and increased percentage energy from healthy core food (95% CI -0.21 to 21.89%E; p  = .045) compared to Waitlist control., Discussion: A family-focused online telehealth nutrition intervention is feasible. While the modest sample size reduced power to detect between-group changes in weight status, some improvements in child dietary intakes were identified in those receiving telehealth and SMS.

Introduction: Previous reviews of family-based interventions for childhood obesity treatment found that studies were of low methodological quality with inadequate details reported, especially related to intervention fidelity. The evaluation of fidelity is crucial to inform interpretation of the intervention outcomes. This study aimed to summarise intervention fidelity, participants' acceptability and satisfaction with a 12-week family-focused technology-based child nutrition and weight management intervention., Methods: Families with children aged 4-11 years participated in a telehealth intervention with complementary components: website, Facebook group and text messages. Intervention fidelity was reported using National Institutes of Health Treatment Fidelity Framework. Delivery was measured using a dietitian-reported evaluation survey. Google Analytics and Bitly platform were used to objectively track data on frequency and pattern of intervention use. Participants' acceptability and satisfaction were measured using a process evaluation survey., Results: Telehealth consultations delivered by trained dietitians had good adherence (≥83%) to the structured content. Process evaluation results indicated that parents ( n  =   30; mean age 41 years, 97% were female, body mass index 30 kg/m 2 ) found the intervention components easy to use/understand (87-100%), the programme had improved their family/child eating habits (93%), and they wanted to continue using telehealth and the website, as well as recommending it to other parents (90-91%)., Discussion: In summary, a family-focused technology-based child nutrition and weight management intervention using telehealth, website, Facebook and SMS can be delivered by trained dietitians with good fidelity and attain high acceptability and satisfaction among families with primary-school-aged children in New South Wales, Australia.

With the growth of Internet technologies, offering interventions for child and family weight management in an online format may address barriers to accessing services. This study aimed to investigate (i) whether an eHealth family healthy lifestyle program would be of interest to parents; and (ii) preferences and/or expectations for program components and features. Parents of children aged four to18 years were recruited through social media and completed an online survey (54 items) including closed and open-ended questions. Responses were collated using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Seventy-five participants were included (92% mothers, mean age 39.1 ± 8.6 years, mean BMI 27.6 ± 6.3 kg/m²). The index child had a mean age of 11 ± 6.2 years with 24% overweight/obese. The majority of parents (90.3%) reported interest in an online program, with preference expressed for a non-structured program to allow flexibility users to log-on and off as desired. Parents wanted a program that was easy to use, practical, engaging, endorsed by a reputable source, and able to provide individual tailoring and for their children to be directly involved. The current study supports the need for online delivery of a healthy lifestyle program that targets greater parental concerns of diet rather than child weight.

Background: Electronic health (eHealth) interventions for children often rely on parent-reported child anthropometric measures. However, limited studies have assessed parental accuracy in reporting child height and weight via Web-based approaches.Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the accuracy of parent-reported child height and weight, as well as body mass index and weight category that we calculated from these data. We also aimed to explore whether parent report was influenced by age, sex, weight status, or exposure to participation in a 12-week brief Web-based family lifestyle intervention.Methods: This study was a secondary analysis of data from a 12-week childhood obesity pilot randomized controlled trial in families with children aged 4 to 11 years in Australia. We asked parents to report demographic information, including child height and weight, using an online survey before their child's height and weight were objectively measured by a trained research assistant at baseline and week 12. We analyzed data using the Lin concordance correlation coefficient (ρc, ranging from 0 [poor] to ±1 [perfect] concordance), Cohen kappa coefficient, and multivariable linear regression models.Results: There were 42 families at baseline and 35 families (83%) at week 12. Overall, the accuracy of parent-reported child height was moderate (ρc=.94), accuracy of weight was substantial (ρc=.96), and accuracy of calculated body mass index was poor (ρc=.63). Parents underreported child height and weight, respectively, by 0.9 cm and 0.5 kg at baseline and by 0.2 cm and 1.6 kg after participating in a 12-week brief Web-based family lifestyle intervention. The overall interrater agreement of child body mass index category was moderate at baseline (κ=.59) and week 12 (κ=.54). The weight category calculated from 74% (n=31) and 70% (n=23) of parent-reported child height and weight was accurate at baseline and week 12, respectively. Parental age was significantly (95% CI -0.52 to -0.06; P=.01) associated with accuracy of reporting child height. Child age was significantly (95% CI -2.34 to -0.06; P=.04) associated with reporting of child weight.Conclusions: Most Australian parents were reasonably accurate in reporting child height and weight among a group of children aged 4 to 11 years. The weight category of most of the children when calculated from parent-reported data was in agreement with the objectively measured data despite the body mass index calculated from parent-reported data having poor concordance at both time points. Online parent-reported child height and weight may be a valid method of collecting child anthropometric data ahead of participation in a Web-based program. Future studies with larger sample sizes and repeated measures over time in the context of eHealth research are warranted. Future studies should consider modeling the impact of calibration equations applied to parent-reported anthropometric data on study outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]