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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2016 May;50(5):584-592.
doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2015.09.017. Epub 2015 Nov 10.

Fit 5 Kids TV Reduction Program for Latino Preschoolers: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

Jason A Mendoza  1 , Tom Baranowski  2 , Sandra Jaramillo  2 , Megan D Fesinmeyer  3 , Wren Haaland  3 , Debbe Thompson  2 , Theresa A Nicklas  2
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Randomized Controlled Trial

Fit 5 Kids TV Reduction Program for Latino Preschoolers: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

Jason A Mendoza et al. Am J Prev Med. 2016 May.

Abstract

Introduction: Reducing Latino preschoolers' TV viewing is needed to reduce their risk of obesity and other chronic diseases. This study's objective was to evaluate the Fit 5 Kids (F5K) TV reduction program's impact on Latino preschooler's TV viewing.

Study design: Cluster RCT with randomization at the center level and N=160 participants.

Setting/participants: Latino children aged 3-5 years and their parents were recruited from six Head Start centers in Houston TX in 2010-2012 with analyses in 2013-2014.

Intervention: F5K was culturally adapted for Latino preschoolers and the overall goal was to reduce TV viewing. Study staff taught F5K over 7-8 weeks during the regular Head Start day directly to intervention students. Control schools provided the usual Head Start curriculum, which did not specifically cover TV viewing.

Main outcome measures: Individual-level outcomes were measured prior to (Time 1) and immediately following (Time 2) the intervention. The primary outcome, TV viewing (minutes/day), was measured by validated 7-day TV diaries (parent-reported). Sedentary time was measured by accelerometers.

Results: Per the adjusted repeated measures linear mixed effects model for TV viewing (minutes/day), intervention children decreased from 76.2 (9.9) at Time 1 to 52.1 (10.0) at Time 2, whereas control children remained about the same from 84.2 (10.5) at Time 1 to 85.4 (10.5) at Time 2. The relative difference from Time 1 to Time 2 was -25.3 (95% CI= -45.2, -5.4) minutes for intervention versus control children (N=160, p=0.01). In a similar adjusted model, there was a relative decrease in sedentary time (minutes/day) from Time 1 to Time 2 favoring the intervention children (-9.5, 95% CI= -23.0, 4.1), although not significant at p<0.05.

Conclusions: F5K reduced Latino preschoolers' TV viewing by >25 minutes daily. These findings have implications for prevention of obesity, related disorders, and health equity.

Trial registration: This study is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT01216306.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Fit 5 Kids cluster RCT CONSORT flow diagram.
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