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Evaluation of an intervention to promote protective infant feeding practices to prevent childhood obesity : Outcomes of the NOURISH RCT at 14 months of age and 6 months post the first of two intervention modules
Daniels, Lynne Mallan, Kimberley Battistutta, Diana Nicholson, Jan Perry, Rebecca Magarey, Anthea
Daniels, Lynne
Mallan, Kimberley
Battistutta, Diana
Nicholson, Jan
Perry, Rebecca
Magarey, Anthea
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate a universal obesity prevention intervention, which commenced at infant age 4–6 months, using outcome data assessed 6 months after completion of the first of two intervention modules and 9 months from baseline. Design: Randomised controlled trial of a community-based early feeding intervention. Subjects and methods: Six hundred and ninety-eight first-time mothers (mean age 30±5 years) with healthy term infants (51% male) aged 4.3±1.0 months at baseline. Mothers and infants were randomly allocated to self-directed access to usual care or to attend two group education modules, each delivered over 3 months, that provided anticipatory guidance on early feeding practices. Outcome data reported here were assessed at infant age 13.7±1.3 months. Anthropometrics were expressed as z-scores (WHO reference). Rapid weight gain was defined as change in weight-for-age z-score (WAZ) of > +0.67. Maternal feeding practices were assessed via self-administered questionnaire. Results: There were no differences according to group allocation on key maternal and infant characteristics. At follow-up (n=598 (86%)), the control group infants had higher BMI-for-age z-score (BMIZ) (0.42±0.85 vs 0.23±0.93, P=0.009) and were more likely to show rapid weight gain from baseline to follow-up (odds ratio (OR)=1.5, confidence interval (CI) 95%=1.1–2.1, P=0.014). Mothers in the control group were more likely to report using non-responsive feeding practices that fail to respond to infant satiety cues such as encouraging eating by using food as a reward (15% vs 4%, P=0.001) or using games (67% vs 29%, P < 0.001). Conclusions: These results provide early evidence that anticipatory guidance targeting the ‘when, what and how’ of solid feeding can be effective in changing maternal feeding practices and, at least in the short term, reducing anthropometric indicators of childhood obesity risk. Analyses of outcomes at later ages are required to determine if these promising effects can be sustained.
Keywords
Date
2012
Type
Journal article
Journal
International Journal of Obesity
Book
Volume
36
Issue
10
Page Range
1292-1298
Article Number
ACU Department
School of Behavioural and Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
License
File Access
Controlled