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Objective
The objective of the HEROs Study (HEalthy EnviROnments Study) is to develop a technology-based, interactive family intervention to promote healthy lifestyles and weight outcomes for young children in the family setting.
Description
The project aims to improve family routines and parent-child eating and physical activity (PA) interactions. Research activities will be conducted through four key objectives: Formative Research; Intervention Design; Intervention Testing; and Education.
Evaluation
Year 4 focused on intervention development. Focus groups were conducted with parents (n = 3) and Head Start/preschool teachers and staff (n = 3) to assist in strategy refinement. Core content was developed for parent workshops, child lessons, and web content using Social Cognitive Theory constructs. Prototypes of nutrition and physical activity mobile applications continued to be developed and tested. Creative concepts were developed and pretested with children, parents, and teachers/staff. Testing will occur to determine outcomes for intervention components, including the core set of parent workshops (behavioral mediators), mobile apps (parent child interaction), self-care module (parent behaviors), and home food environment assessment tool (availability and quality).
Conclusion and Implications
The HEROs intervention will be studied to understand which of the key intervention components resonates with and drives participants towards behavior change. It is anticipated that this intervention will lead to improved parent-child interactions specific to engaging children to try new foods and enhancing fundamental movement skills, foundational behaviors to developing a quality diet and positive physical activity behaviors in early childhood.
Funding
2015-68001-23240.
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Copyright
© 2019 Published by Elsevier Inc.
