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The 'Healthy Dads, Healthy Kids' randomized controlled trial: efficacy of a healthy lifestyle program for overweight fathers and their children
Morgan PJ, Lubans DR, Callister R, Okely AD, Burrows TL, Fletcher R, Collins CE
International Journal of Obesity 2011 Mar;35(3):436-447
clinical trial
6/10 [Eligibility criteria: Yes; Random allocation: Yes; Concealed allocation: Yes; Baseline comparability: Yes; Blind subjects: No; Blind therapists: No; Blind assessors: No; Adequate follow-up: No; Intention-to-treat analysis: Yes; Between-group comparisons: Yes; Point estimates and variability: Yes. Note: Eligibility criteria item does not contribute to total score] *This score has been confirmed*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of the 'Healthy Dads, Healthy Kids' (HDHK) program, which was designed to help overweight fathers lose weight and be a role model of positive health behaviors for their children. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 53 overweight/obese men (mean (SD) age 40.6 (7.1) years; body mass index (BMI) 33.2 (3.9)) and their primary school-aged children (n = 71, 54% boys; mean (SD) age 8.2 (2.0) years) were randomly assigned (family unit) to either (i) the HDHK program (n = 27 fathers, n = 39 children) or (ii) a wait-list control group (n = 26 fathers, n = 32 children). INTERVENTION: Fathers in the 3-month program attended eight face-to-face education sessions. Children attended three of these sessions. OUTCOMES: The primary outcome was fathers' weight. Fathers and their children were assessed at baseline, and at 3- and 6-month follow-up, for weight, waist circumference, BMI, blood pressure, resting heart rate (RHR), objectively measured physical activity and self-reported dietary intake. RESULTS: Intention-to-treat analysis revealed significant between-group differences at 6 months for weight loss (p < 0.001), with HDHK fathers losing more weight (-7.6 kg; 95% confidence interval (CI) -9.2 to -6.0; d = 0.54) than control group fathers (0.0 kg; 95% CI -1.4 to 1.6). Significant treatment effects (p < 0.05) were also found for waist circumference (d = 0.62), BMI (d = 0.53), systolic blood pressure (d = 0.92), RHR (d = 0.66) and physical activity (d = 0.91), but not for dietary intake. In children, significant treatment effects (p < 0.05) were found for physical activity (d = 0.74), RHR (d = 0.51) and dietary intake (d = 0.84). CONCLUSION: The HDHK program resulted in significant weight loss and improved health-related outcomes in fathers and improved eating and physical activity among children. Targeting fathers is a novel and efficacious approach to improving health behavior in their children.

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